Iron oxide facts for kids
Iron oxides are special chemical compounds. They are made when iron and oxygen join together. There are sixteen different types of iron oxides that we know about.
These compounds are very useful. People use them to make pigments, which are colors for paints and other things. Iron oxides can be found naturally in the earth. They can also be made by people.
For example, a type of iron oxide called haematite makes a red color called Venetian red. Another type, magnetite, helps create black or purple colors. Other natural earth colors like umber, sienna, and ochre are also iron oxides. These can be yellow or even a reddish-brown color.
Most iron oxide is dug up from the ground as iron ore. Every year, huge amounts of this ore go into giant ovens called blast furnaces. This process helps us make the iron we use for many things.
Contents
Different Kinds of Iron Oxides
There are several important types of iron oxides. Each one has its own special features.
Iron(III) Oxide
This iron oxide is usually reddish. You might know it better as rust. It forms when iron reacts with oxygen and water. In nature, it's found as the mineral haematite.
Iron(II,III) Oxide
This type of iron oxide is black. It is also magnetic. You can find it in the earth as the mineral magnetite. Magnetite is a natural magnet.
Iron(II) Oxide
This iron oxide is black, but it's quite rare. It can catch fire easily. It is also not very stable at normal room temperatures.
Iron(II) Hydroxide
This is a dark green substance. It's a type of hydrated iron oxide. This means it has water molecules connected to it.
Images for kids
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Electrochemically oxidized iron (rust)
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Iron oxide pigment. The brown color shows that iron is in a +3 oxidation state.
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Green and reddish-brown stains on a limestone core sample. These show different forms of iron oxides.
See also
In Spanish: Óxidos de hierro para niños
