Question

What is the valency of oxygen in magnetitie(fe3o4)?

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Answer 1

Explanation:

Oxide ions tend to have a 2- charge. Fe3O4 is a neutral molecule, so that means that the overall charge balance is 3(Fe) + 4(-2) = 0, which gives the iron in Fe3O4 an overall valency of +8/3.

Answer 2

Answer:

Fe3O4 is a tricky one, because it is not really Fe3O4, it is made up of FeO and Fe2O3 in equal parts. Magnetite as it is commonly named would have a valency of +8/3 if it was really Fe3O4, but you cannot have a fractional valency. Oxide ions tend to have a 2- charge. Fe3O4 is a neutral molecule, so that means that the overall charge balance is 3(Fe) + 4(-2) = 0, which gives the iron in Fe3O4 an overall valency of +8/3.