To describe the electron transfer process when iron (Fe) reacts with oxygen (O2) to form iron oxide (Fe2O3), we can break it down step by step.
Rusting Reaction:
The overall reaction for the formation of rust (iron(III) oxide) from iron and oxygen is:
\[ 4 \text{Fe} + 3 \text{O}_2 \rightarrow 2 \text{Fe}_2\text{O}_3 \]
Electron Transfer Model:
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Oxidation of Iron: Each iron atom (Fe) loses three electrons (e−) to form an iron ion (Fe³⁺). This process is known as oxidation.
\[ \text{Fe} \rightarrow \text{Fe}^{3+} + 3e^- \]
If we have four iron atoms: \[ 4 \text{Fe} \rightarrow 4 \text{Fe}^{3+} + 12e^- \]
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Reduction of Oxygen: Oxygen (O2) atoms gain electrons to form oxide ions (O²⁻). Each O2 molecule takes four electrons to convert into two oxide ions:
\[ \text{O}_2 + 4e^- \rightarrow 2\text{O}^{2-} \]
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Combining Ions: The iron ions (Fe³⁺) and oxide ions (O²⁻) then combine to form iron(III) oxide (Fe2O3) according to stoichiometry:
\[ 2 \text{Fe}^{3+} + 3 \text{O}^{2-} \rightarrow \text{Fe}_2\text{O}_3 \]
Model Representation:
You could visualize this process as follows:
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Before the Reaction: Draw individual iron atoms (Fe) showing their electrons in orbitals. Mark the electrons that are lost as e− (oxidation).
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During Electron Transfer: Show arrows indicating the transfer of electrons from the iron atoms to the oxygen molecules.
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After the Reaction: Represent iron ions (Fe³⁺) and oxide ions (O²⁻) coming together to form a unit of rust (Fe2O3).
Summary Drawing:
- On the left: Four iron atoms (Fe) clearly showing their electrons. Indicate which electrons will be transferred.
- In the middle: Oxygen molecule (O2) with arrows indicating the gain of electrons.
- On the right: The resulting rust (Fe2O3) structure depicted as a combination of Fe³⁺ and O²⁻ ions showing the overall stability of the compound in a lattice structure.
This would provide a clear visual representation of the electron transfer process that leads to the formation of rust through oxidation and reduction. If you are looking to create an actual image or model, consider using molecular kits, diagrams, or digital chemistry software to visualize this process graphically.