Question

Fe + H20 ~~~ Fe3O4 + H2

why Fe3O4 not Fe2O3​

Answer 1

Hi pal

Iron reacts with steam to form oxide of iron (Fe3O4). You can write Fe3O4 as FeO.Fe2O3 but this not mixture. Fe3O4 it is ionic Crystal in which two types of iins Fe2+ and Fe3+ ions are present.

hope it helps

Answer 2

Answer:

Fe3O4 is a tricky compound.

Here 3 atoms of Fe are used in which two of them have a charge of +3 and one atom has a charge of +2. So, total charge of 3 Fe atoms= 3+3+2= +8

4 atoms of oxygen are used each with charge -2. So, the total charge of 4 Oxygen atoms= -8

Thus, 4 atoms of oxygen, 2 atoms of iron with charge 3, and one atom of iron with charge 2 form the compound Fe3O4.