4Fe -> 3O2 -> 2Fe2 -> O3
What happens to the atoms of Fe and O2 during the reaction?
During the reaction, the atoms of Fe and O2 undergo a series of transformations. Initially, 4 atoms of Fe combine with 3 molecules of O2 to form 2 molecules of Fe2O3 (iron (III) oxide). This reaction is a combination reaction, where iron reacts with oxygen to form a compound. The iron atoms lose electrons and are oxidized to an oxidation state of +3, while the oxygen atoms gain electrons and are reduced to an oxidation state of -2.
Then, the 2 molecules of Fe2O3 further react to produce 3 molecules of O3 (ozone) and 4 molecules of Fe. This reaction is a decomposition reaction, where the iron (III) oxide breaks down into its constituent elements. In this reaction, the iron (III) oxide is being reduced, and the ozone is being oxidized.
In summary, during the reaction, the iron atoms are oxidized, while the oxygen atoms are reduced.
They maintain their properties.
They gain mass.
They are rearranged.
Or
They are lost.
During the reaction, the atoms of Fe and O2 are rearranged. They maintain their properties but are no longer in the same arrangement as before the reaction. Some atoms of Fe combine with atoms of O2 to form molecules of Fe2O3, while other atoms of Fe and O2 are rearranged to form molecules of O3. Overall, the atoms are not lost or gained, but rather reorganized into different molecules.
In the given reaction, 4Fe reacts with 3O2 to produce 2Fe2 and O3. Let's break down the changes occurring to the atoms of Fe and O2 during the reaction:
1. Iron (Fe):
Initially, we have 4 atoms of iron (Fe). These atoms react with 3 molecules of oxygen (O2).
- Fe (Iron) atoms lose their electrons and get oxidized. Each Fe atom loses two electrons to become Fe2+ ions. So, 4Fe will lose 8 electrons and form 4Fe2+ ions.
- The Fe2+ ions then combine with each other to form 2Fe2. Here, the oxidation state of the iron atoms changes from +2 to 0.
2. Oxygen (O2):
Initially, we have 3 molecules of oxygen (O2), comprising a total of 6 oxygen atoms.
- Each oxygen molecule, O2, gains four electrons to form two oxide ions, O2-.
- The six oxide ions, O2-, combine together to form three molecules of ozone (O3), where each ozone molecule contains three oxygen atoms.
To summarize, during the reaction, iron atoms lose electrons and undergo oxidation, while oxygen molecules gain electrons and undergo reduction, resulting in the formation of iron ions and ozone.