Iron oxide facts for kids

Iron oxide salt deposits at the edge of a geothermal lake in Waimangu Volcanic Valley, Rotorua, New Zealand

Iron oxides are chemical compounds. There are sixteen known iron oxides. Iron oxides are used in pigments. It is used in both man-made and natural pigments.

Venetian red (haematite), Magnetite (Fe₃0₄), or a mixture of oxides make black or purple pigments. The umber, sienna and ochre are oxides or hydrated oxides of a yellow to chestnut colour.

Most iron oxide is mined as iron ore. Every year millions of tons go into blast furnaces to make iron.

Various iron oxides

• Iron(III) oxide, reddish, commonly known as rust, found in the earth as haematite
• Iron(II,III) oxide, magnetic, black, found in the earth as magnetite
• Iron(II) oxide, black, rare, flammable, not stable at room temperature
• Iron(II) hydroxide, dark green hydrated iron oxide

Images for kids

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  Electrochemically oxidized iron (rust)

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  Iron oxide pigment. The brown color indicates that iron is at the oxidation state +3.

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  Green and reddish brown stains on a limestone core sample, respectively corresponding to oxides/hydroxides of Fe2+ and Fe3+.

See also

In Spanish: Óxidos de hierro para niños