Oxidation Number of Fe3O4
In Fe3O4, we find the oxidation number of element in it particularly that of Fe. As we know iron oxide Fe3O4 is a mixture of Fe2O3 and FeO. So the oxidation number of any element in Fe2O4 will be average of both the compounds.
- In Fe2O3 the oxidation sate of iron is 3
- In FeO the oxidation number of Fe is 2
Therefore the average oxidation sates of Iron Oxide is (3+3+2)/2 = 8/3
We can also find the oxidation number of Fe in Fe3O4 in the following manner:
Let Oxidation Number of Fe is x
- We know that Oxidation Number of O is -2
- Since, Fe3O4 is neutral, hence overall charge is zero
Therefore, 3x + 4(-2) = 0
⇒ 3x -8 = 0
⇒ x = +8/3