Iron oxide
class of chemical compounds composed of iron and oxygen
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 (Fe3O4), 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 change
- 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
