When iron rusts forms iron oxide, the iron oxide has more mass than the iron which statement correctly explains this observation?

A: the oxygen atoms in iron oxide has more mass than the atoms in pure iron
B: iron oxide has oxygen atoms in pure iron does not
C: the iron atoms in iron oxide has more mass than pure iron
D: there are more iron atoms in iron oxide than in pure iron

C: the iron atoms in iron oxide have more mass than pure iron

Iron oxide is formed when iron reacts with oxygen in the presence of moisture or water. This reaction leads to the formation of iron oxide, which has more mass than the initial iron. The oxygen atoms combine with the iron atoms, resulting in a compound with a greater mass than the original iron.