When iron rusts and forms iron oxide, the iron oxide has more mass than the iron. Which statement correctly explains this difference in mass? (1 point)

Question

• There are more iron atoms in iron oxide than in pure iron.
• The iron atoms in iron oxide have more mass than pure iron.
• The oxygen atoms in iron oxide have more mass
than the iron atoms in pure iron.
Iron oxide has oxygen atoms, and pure iron does

Answer 1

The correct statement that explains the difference in mass when iron rusts and forms iron oxide is:

• Iron oxide has oxygen atoms, and pure iron does not.

When iron rusts, it reacts with oxygen in the environment to form iron oxide (rust), resulting in the addition of mass from the oxygen atoms. This is why iron oxide has more mass than pure iron.