Ferrosoferric Oxide (Fe3O4)-Pellets

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：Fe₃O₄

                                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.[19] 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.