4Fe + 3O2 →2Fe2O3

what happens to atoms fe and O2 during the reaction

The atoms of Fe (iron) and O2 (oxygen) are rearranged and combined to form iron oxide (Fe2O3). In the reaction, 4 atoms of Fe react with 3 molecules of O2 to form 2 molecules of Fe2O3. The iron atoms do not change their identity but are rearranged to form the compound iron oxide. The oxygen atoms from the oxygen molecules are also rearranged and combined with the iron atoms to form the iron oxide compound.