Ferrosoferric Oxide (Fe3O4)-Powder

Characteristic

Iron(II,III) oxide is the chemical compound with formula Fe₃O₄. It occurs in nature as the mineral magnetite. It is one of a number of iron oxides, the others being iron(II) oxide (FeO), which is rare, and iron(III) oxide (Fe₂O₃) also known as hematite. It contains both Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺ ions and is sometimes formulated as FeO ∙ Fe₂O₃. This iron oxide is encountered in the laboratory as a black powder. It exhibits permanent magnetism and is ferrimagnetic, but is sometimes incorrectly described as ferromagnetic.

Chemical formula：Fe₃O_4;FeO.Fe₂O₃

Molar mass：231.533 g/mol

Appearance：solid black powder

Density：5 g/cm³

Melting point：1,597 °C (2,907 °F; 1,870 K)

Boiling point：2,623°C (4,753 °F; 2,896 K)

Refractive index (nD)：2.42

Application

Fe₃O₄ is used as a black pigment and is known as C.I pigment black 11 (C.I. No.77499) or Mars Black.

Fe₃O₄ is used as a catalyst in the Haber process and in the water-gas shift reaction. The latter uses an HTS (high temperature shift catalyst) of iron oxide stabilised by chromium oxide. This iron–chrome catalyst is reduced at reactor start up to generate Fe₃O₄ from α-Fe₂O₃ and Cr₂O₃ to CrO₃.

Nano particles of Fe₃O₄ are used as contrast agents in MRI scanning.

Ferumoxytol, also known as Feraheme and Rienso, is an intravenous Fe3O4 preparation for treatment of anemia resulting from chronic kidney disease. Ferumoxytol is manufactured and globally distributed by AMAG Pharmaceuticals. Along with sulfur and aluminium, it is an ingredient in a specific type of thermite useful for cutting steel.

Bluing is a passivation process that produces a layer of Fe₃O₄ on the surface of steel to protect it from rust.