Question

Oxidation state of Fe in Fe30, is

Answer 1

Answer:

oxidation number of Fe in Fe3O4 are +2 and +3 respectively.

Explanation:

Fe3O4 contains Fe atoms of both +2 and +3 oxidation number. It is a stoichiometric mixture of Ferrous (FeO) and Ferric (Fe2O3) oxides combined  as FeO.Fe2O3.

Oxidation state of oxygen in FeO and Fe2O3 is -2.

Let the oxidation state of Fe in FeO and Fe2O3 be x and y respectively.

As we know that the sum of the oxidation states of all the atoms or ions in a neutral compound is zero.

Therefore,

Oxidation state of Fe in FeO-

x+(−2)=0

⇒x=2

Oxidation state of Fe in Fe2O3-

2(y)+3(−2)=0

⇒2y=6

⇒y=3

Hence the oxidation number of Fe in Fe3O4 are +2 and +3 respectively.