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href="../zinc/chemistry.html">Zinc</a></li> <li class="pure-menu-item d"><a class="pure-menu-link d" href="../zirconium/chemistry.html">Zirconium</a></li> </ul> </div> </div>  <div class="pure-g"> <div class="pure-u-1"> <div class="pure-menu pure-menu-open pure-menu-horizontal centre" role="navigation" style="background: #000 url(../_media/elements/discharge/Fe.png) repeat-y center; background-size:contain;"> <span><a class="pure-menu-heading" href="https://winter.group.shef.ac.uk/webelements/"><img height="30" src="../_media/icons/logo_60.png" alt="WebElements logo"></a> <a class="white" href="./">Iron - <sub>26</sub>Fe</a>  <audio id="myAudio_f"> <source src="../_media/elements/snds_f/Fe.mp3" type="audio/mpeg">Your user agent does not support the HTML5 Audio element. </audio> <button class="pure-button d_button" style=" display: inline;" type="button" onclick="audf_play_pause()"> 🔊  </button> <script> function audf_play_pause() { var myAudiof = document.getElementById("myAudio_f"); if (myAudiof.paused) { myAudiof.play(); } else { myAudiof.pause(); }} </script></span> </div> </div> </div> <div id="main">  <div class="pure-u-1 pure-u-sm-1-1"> <div class="pure-menu pure-menu-horizontal pure-menu-scrollable"> <a href="#" class="pure-menu-link pure-menu-heading">▸▸</a> <ul class="pure-menu-list"> <li class="pure-menu-item">🇬🇧 Iron</li> <li class="pure-menu-item">🇺🇦 Залізо</li> <li class="pure-menu-item">🇨🇳 鐵</li> <li class="pure-menu-item">🇳🇱 Ijzer</li> <li class="pure-menu-item">🇫🇷 Fer</li> <li class="pure-menu-item">🇩🇪 Eisen</li> <li class="pure-menu-item">🇮🇱 ברזל</li> <li class="pure-menu-item">🇮🇹 Ferro</li> <li class="pure-menu-item">🇯🇵 鉄</li> <li class="pure-menu-item">🇵🇹 Ferro</li> <li class="pure-menu-item">🇪🇸 Hierro</li> <li class="pure-menu-item">🇸🇪 Järn</li> <li class="pure-menu-item">🇷🇺 Железо</li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="pure-g"> <div class="pure-u-1 pure-u-sm-1-1"> <div class="google_navbar_positioning"> <form action="https://www.google.com" id="cse-search-box"> <div> <input type="hidden" name="cx" value="partner-pub-9334432533380510:6223510783"> <input type="hidden" name="ie" value="UTF-8"> <input type="text" name="q" size="28"> <input type="submit" name="sa" value="Search"> </div> </form> <script> </script> </div> </div> </div> <main> <div class="pure-g"> <div class="pure-u-1 pure-u-sm-1-1"> <h1 class="d">Iron - <sub><small>26</small></sub>Fe: reactions of elements</h1> <div class="pure-menu pure-menu-horizontal pure-menu-scrollable"> <ul class="pure-menu-list z_menu"> <li class="pure-menu-item d"><a href="../iron/" class="pure-menu-link">▸▸ Fe Essentials</a></li> <li class="pure-menu-item d"><a class="pure-menu-link" href="../iron/physics.html">Physical properties</a></li> <li class="pure-menu-item d"><a class="pure-menu-link" href="../iron/atoms.html">Electron shell data</a></li> <li class="pure-menu-item d"><a class="pure-menu-link" href="../iron/atom_sizes.html">Atom sizes</a></li> <li class="pure-menu-item d"><a class="pure-menu-link" href="../iron/electronegativity.html">Electronegativity</a></li> <li class="pure-menu-item d"><a class="pure-menu-link" href="../iron/isotopes.html" >Isotopes and NMR</a></li> <li class="pure-menu-item d"><a class="pure-menu-link" href="../iron/crystal_structure.html">Crystal structure</a></li> <li class="pure-menu-item d"><a class="pure-menu-link" href="../iron/thermochemistry.html">Thermochemistry</a></li> <li class="pure-menu-item d"><a class="pure-menu-link" href="../iron/history.html">History</a></li> <li class="pure-menu-item d"><a class="pure-menu-link" href="../iron/uses.html">Uses</a></li> <li class="pure-menu-item d"><a class="pure-menu-link" href="../iron/geology.html">Geology</a></li> <li class="pure-menu-item d"><a class="pure-menu-link" href="../iron/biology.html">Biology</a></li> <li class="pure-menu-item d"><a class="pure-menu-link" href="../iron/compounds.html">Binary compounds</a></li> <li class="pure-menu-item d"><a class="pure-menu-link" href="../iron/compound_properties.html" >Compound properties</a></li> <li class="pure-menu-item d"><a class="pure-menu-link" href="../iron/chemistry.html">Element reactions</a></li> <li class="pure-menu-item d"><a class="pure-menu-link" href="../iron/contents.html">List all Fe properties</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <h2 class="d">Reaction of iron with air</h2> <p class="p_first">Iron metal reacts in moist air by oxidation to give a hydrated iron oxide. This does not protect the iron surface to further reaction since it flakes off, exposing more iron metal to oxidation. This process is called rusting and is familiar to any car owner. Finely divided iron powder is pyrophoric, making it a fire risk.</p> <p>On heating with oxygen, O<sub>2</sub>, the result is formation of the iron oxides Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> and Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>.</p> <p class="equation">4Fe(s) + 3O<sub>2</sub>(g) → 2Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>(s)</p> <p class="equation">3Fe(s) + 2O<sub>2</sub>(g) → Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>(s)</p> <h2 class="d">Reaction of iron with water</h2> <p class="p_first">Air-free water has little effect upon iron metal. However, iron metal reacts in moist air by oxidation to give a hydrated iron oxide. This does not protect the iron surface to further reaction since it flakes off, exposing more iron metal to oxidation. This process is called rusting and is familiar to any car owner.</p> <h2 class="d">Reaction of iron with the halogens</h2> <p class="p_first">Iron reacts with excess of the halogens F<sub>2</sub>, Cl<sub>2</sub>, and Br<sub>2</sub>, to form ferric, that is, Fe(III), halides.</p> <p class="equation">2Fe(s) + 3F<sub>2</sub>(g) → 2FeF<sub>3</sub>(s) (white)</p> <p class="equation">2Fe(s) + 3Cl<sub>2</sub>(g) → 2FeCl<sub>3</sub>(s) (dark brown)</p> <p class="equation">2Fe(s) + 3Br<sub>2</sub>(l) → 2FeBr<sub>3</sub>(s) (reddish brown)</p> <p>This reaction is not very successful for iodine because of thermodynamic problems. The iron(III) is too oxidizing and the iodide is too reducing. The direct reaction between iron metal and iodine can be used to prepare iron (II) iodide, FeI<sub>2</sub>.</p> <p class="equation">Fe(s) + I<sub>2</sub>(s) → FeI<sub>2</sub>(s) (grey)</p> <h2 class="d">Reaction of iron with acids</h2> <p class="p_first">Iron metal dissolves readily in dilute sulphuric acid in the absence of oxygen to form solutions containing the aquated Fe(II) ion together with hydrogen gas, H<sub>2</sub>. In practice, the Fe(II) is present as the complex ion [Fe(OH<sub>2</sub>)<sub>6</sub>]<sup>2+</sup>.</p> <p class="equation">Fe(s) + H<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub>(aq) → Fe<sup>2+</sup>(aq) + SO<sub>4</sub><sup>2-</sup>(aq) + H<sub>2</sub>(g)</p> <p>If oxygen is present, some of the Fe(II) oxidizes to Fe(III).</p> <p>The strongly oxidizing concentrated nitric acid, HNO<sub>3</sub>, reacts on th surface of iron and passivates the surface.</p> <h2 class="d">Reaction of iron with bases</h2> </main> <div id="footer"> <footer> <div class="footer"> <div class="pure-g"> <div class="pure-u-1-2 pure-u-sm-1-2 pure-u-lg-1-4 pure-menu custom-restricted-width"> <ul class="pure-menu-list"> <li class="pure-menu-heading footer_h">Key properties</li> <li class="pure-menu-item"><a class="pure-menu-link" href="https://www.webelements.com/periodicity/eneg_pauling/">Electronegativity </a></li> <li class="pure-menu-item"><a class="pure-menu-link" href="https://www.webelements.com/periodicity/melting_point/">Melting point</a></li> <li class="pure-menu-item"><a class="pure-menu-link" href="https://www.webelements.com/periodicity/density/">Density </a></li> <li class="pure-menu-item"><a class="pure-menu-link" href="https://www.webelements.com/periodicity/molar_volume/">Molar volume</a></li> <li class="pure-menu-item"><a class="pure-menu-link" href="https://www.webelements.com/periodicity/ionis_energy_1/">Ionization energy (1st)</a></li> <li class="pure-menu-item"><a class="pure-menu-link" href="https://www.webelements.com/periodicity/covalent_radius/">Covalent radius</a></li> <li class="pure-menu-item"><a class="pure-menu-link" href="https://www.webelements.com/periodicity/metallic_radius/">Metallic radius</a></li> <li class="pure-menu-item"><a class="pure-menu-link" href="https://www.webelements.com/periodicity/abund_crust/">Abundance: earth's crust</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="pure-u-1-2 pure-u-sm-1-2 pure-u-lg-1-4 pure-menu custom-restricted-width"> <ul class="pure-menu-list"> <li class="pure-menu-heading footer_h">Shop</li> <li class="pure-menu-item">Sorry, shop closed</li> </ul> </div> <div class="pure-u-1-2 pure-u-sm-1-2 pure-u-lg-1-4 pure-menu custom-restricted-width"> <ul class="pure-menu-list"> <li class="pure-menu-heading footer_h">Social</li> <li class="pure-menu-item"><a class="pure-menu-link" href="https://www.facebook.com/webelements.periodic.table">Facebook</a></li> <li class="pure-menu-item"><a class="pure-menu-link" href="https://twitter.com/periodic_table">Twitter</a></li> <li class="pure-menu-item"><a class="pure-menu-link" href="https://www.pinterest.com/periodictable/">Pinterest</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="pure-u-1-2 pure-u-sm-1-2 pure-u-lg-1-4 pure-menu custom-restricted-width"> <ul class="pure-menu-list"> <li class="pure-menu-heading footer_h">Administration</li> <li class="pure-menu-item"><a class="pure-menu-link" href="https://www.webelements.com/nexus/your-privacy/" title="Your privacy">Privacy</a></li> <li class="pure-menu-item"><a class="pure-menu-link" href="https://www.webelements.com/nexus/about-webelements/" title="About WebElements">About</a></li> <li class="pure-menu-item"><a class="pure-menu-link" href="https://www.webelements.com/nexus/webelements-and-copyright/" title="Copyright information about WebElements">Copyright</a></li> <li class="pure-menu-item"><a class="pure-menu-link" href="https://www.webelements.com/nexus/acknowledgements/" title="Acknowledgements">Thanks...</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <address> <p> <a href="https://www.webelements.com/"><img class="logo_m" src="../_media/icons/logo_60.png" alt="WebElements home" /></a><br /> <strong>WebElements:</strong> THE periodic table on the WWW [<a href="https://www.webelements.com/">www.webelements.com</a>]<br /> <a href="https://www.webelements.com/nexus/webelements-and-copyright/">Copyright </a> 1993-2025 <a href="https://winter.group.shef.ac.uk/">Mark Winter</a> [ <a href="https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/chemistry/">The University of Sheffield </a> and WebElements Ltd, UK]. 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