4040. Ferrosoferric Oxide

Nomenclature

CAS number: 1317-61-9
Ferric ferrous oxide; triiron tetraoxide; black iron oxide; magnetic iron oxide; Ethiops iron.
Fe3O4; mol wt 231.53.
Fe 72.36%, O 27.64%.

Description and references

Occurs in nature as the mineral magnetite (red-black lumps). Prepn: Gmelins, Iron (8th ed) part B, 36-62 (1932); Ullmanns Encyklopdie der technischen Chemie vol. 6, 420 (1955). Review: Robl, Angew. Chem. 70, 367 (1958).

Properties

Black cubes or amorphous powder. mp 1538°; d 5.2. Oxidized to Fe2O3 on heating in air. Practically insol in water. Sol in acids.

Use

Pigment in paints, linoleum, ceramic glazes; in coloring glass; as a polishing compd; in the textile industry; in cathodes; as catalyst.