GCSE Redox Reaction (involving rusting of iron)
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blobbybill
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SO I am using the CGP OCR Gcse Chemistry revision guide and is says:
That the rusting of iron is a redox reaction: iron+oxygen+water > hydrated iron(iii) oxide
The explanation in the book is:
1) Iron loses electrons when it reacts with oxygen. Each Fe atom loses three electrons to become Fe3+
2) Oxygen gains electrons when it reacts with iron. Each O atom gains two electrons to become O2-
So, could you please explain the following to me:
1) Why each Iron Fe atom lose three electrons when it reacts with oxygen?
2) If three electrons are lost from the Iron to become Fe3+, why does each Oxygen O atom only gain two electrons to become O2-? Surely it should gain 3 electrons since 3 are lost from the iron?
Thank you so much
That the rusting of iron is a redox reaction: iron+oxygen+water > hydrated iron(iii) oxide
The explanation in the book is:
1) Iron loses electrons when it reacts with oxygen. Each Fe atom loses three electrons to become Fe3+
2) Oxygen gains electrons when it reacts with iron. Each O atom gains two electrons to become O2-
So, could you please explain the following to me:
1) Why each Iron Fe atom lose three electrons when it reacts with oxygen?
2) If three electrons are lost from the Iron to become Fe3+, why does each Oxygen O atom only gain two electrons to become O2-? Surely it should gain 3 electrons since 3 are lost from the iron?
Thank you so much
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Wolfram Alpha
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It's because oxygen has 6 electrons in its outer shell so it needs to gain electrons which it takes from the Iron...I'm not too sure about the second part.
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