Iron oxide, also called ferric oxide, is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula Fe2O3. It is one of the three major oxides of iron, the remaining two being iron(II) oxide (FeO), which is the rare iron (II and III) oxide (Fe3O4), and also naturally takes place as the mineral magnetite. Since the mineral is referred to as hematite, Fe2O3 is iron's primary source for the steel industry and is readily attacked by acids. Often, iron oxide can be referred to as rust. This label is useful to some extent because rust shares many properties and has the same composition. But, in chemistry, rust is considered an ill-defined material, which can be described as Hydrous ferric oxide. Iron oxide is a compound made from iron and oxygen. There are 16 known iron oxides and oxyhydroxides, the most famous of which is rust, a type of ferric oxide. Iron oxides and oxyhydroxides are widespread and play important roles in many geological and biological processes. They are in hemoglobin and are used in iron ore, pigments, catalysts, and thermites.
Iron oxide is a cheap and permanent pigment in paints, coatings, and colored concrete. Commonly available colors are on the "soil" edge of the yellow / orange / red/brown/black range. When used as a food coloring, the E number is E172. A very fine ferric oxide powder is called "red rouge," "jeweler's rouge," or a rogue. It can be used to put the final polish on lenses and metallic jewelry pieces and, historically, as a cosmetic. This rouge cuts more slowly than a few modern polishes, like cerium(IV) oxide, but still, jewelers use it for the superior finish it can produce and in the optics fabrication. The rouge slightly stains the gold when polishing gold, contributing to the finished piece's appearance. If you are looking for high quality, high purity, and cost-effective Iron Oxide, or if you require the latest price, please email contact mis-asia.
