Fe2o3 Lewis Structure, Characteristics:19 Facts You Should Know

In this article, we shall learn Fe2O3 Lewis Structure, how to draw the lewis dot structure and other relevant information about Fe(III) oxide.

Fe2O3 lewis structure is an oxide of iron, also known as ferric oxide, red iron oxide or hematite that can be obtained in various forms like or , which are known by simple term called as polymorphs.

Fe2O3 lewis structure is one of the main sources of iron for industry processes.

Fe2O3 lewis structure or Fe(III) oxides are also referred to as rust as this is the common oxidation of iron found in rust. It happens as they are easily attacked by molecular oxygen, water molecule and various other solvents found in the environmental conditions.

Though Fe(III) is somewhat oxidizing in nature but Fe(III) and Fe(II) states have a close range of stability.

How to draw Fe2O3 Lewis Structure ?

Fe2O3 lewis structure of a molecule is the electronic skeletal representation of a molecule that briefs about how the atoms are connected/oriented in space through covalent/dative bonds, presence of lone pairs of electrons etc.

Lewis dot structure is constructed in accord with the octet rule which states that every constituent atom tries to accommodate eight electrons in its valence shell to attain noble/stable gas configuration.

There are however, some elements which can expand its octet owing to its expanded shells like SF6 or those that are electron deficient in nature like the H2 molecule.

A noble gas element is the 7th period of periodic table that has the maximum stability due to complete valence shell configuration.

Steps to draw Fe2O3 lewis structure :

Fe2O3 lewis structure is a slightly different case as the compound is ionic in nature hence electron transfer will be observed. Hence, the lewis structure will show how electrons are transferred from metal to a non-metal element.

Each oxygen atom requires 2 extra electrons to complete their octet and attain stability. Each Fe atom transfers 2 electrons to two of the three O atoms and the remaining O atom acquires one electron each from the two Fe atoms. As electrons are transferred from Fe atomic orbitals to the O atomic orbitals, it forms ionic bond.

Fe2O3 lewis structure
Construction of Fe2O3 lewis structure

Fe2O3 lewis structure shape :

Fe2O3 lewis structure has a bent shape similar to ‘W’ . Gamma-Fe2O3 is found to be reverse spinel.

However, it is much more beyond the bent shape.

Its shape or structure generally depends on the size of the crystals. Generally, it is found to be spherical if the nanometer range increases from 20 nm to 81 nm. Further, it has several forms like alpha, gamma, etc. depending on the experimental conditions.

Fe2O3 lewis structure formal charge :

Fe2O3 lewis structure is an ionic compound where metal in the oxidized state and non-metal in the reduced state are joined together to form the cluster of Fe2O3 . Since, it is a neutral compound, it means the total number of cation’s charge must equal the anion’s charge.

Further, formal charge is not the net charge of a molecule. The formal charge if found by the common mathematical formula shown below shows that the atoms do not bear any electronic charge. But, each atom has its specific net charge.

Formal charge = (Number of valence electrons in a free atom of the element) – (Number of unshared electrons on the atom) – (Number of bonds to the atom)

In addition, Charge on the molecule= sum of all the formal charges.

Moreover, formal charge can be found if the electrons are shared fairly between the atoms but in an ionic compound, electrons are transferred. Therefore, it is best to consider and talk about the net charge possessed by the atom in that particular oxidation state.

Fe is in +3 oxidation charge with a net charge of +3 and O has a net charge of -2.

Therefore, the total charge of the Fe2O3 lewis structure cancels out and becomes a neutral molecule.

2Fe+3 ( +3 * 2 = +6 ) and 3O2- ( -2 * 3 = -6 )

Fe2O3 hybridization :

Fe2O3 lewis structure is an ionic compound. The concept of hybridization involves sharing of electrons i.e., by effective overlap of the orbitals.

As ionic compound involves transferring of electrons where in this case 3 electrons are transferred by each Fe atom to the O atom to give them stability. Hence, the concept of hybridization is invalid in Fe2O3 lewis structure.

Ground state of Fe : [Ar]4s23d6

Excited state of Fe in +3 state : [Ar]4s03d5 ( After transferring 3 electrons to O )

Ground state electronic configuration of O: [He]2s22p4

Fe2O3 lewis structure resonance :

Fe2O3 lewis structure does have resonance structures but it is most stable when the atoms do not involve charge separation.

The ionic resonance structure is less stable due to charge separation involving a low resonance energy.

fe2o3 logo2
Fe2O3 lewis structure resonance

Fe2O3 lewis structure octet angle :

Fe2O3 lewis structure is an ionic molecule and the oxygen atoms in the crystal follows the octet rule.

Fe atoms transfer electrons to the valence orbital of oxygen atoms to complete their octet. Fe, being a transition metal, can accommodate more than 8 electrons. After losing 3 electrons by each Fe atoms, it has 5 electrons left in its valence 3d subshells.

Fe2O3 lewis structure lone pairs :

Fe2O3 lewis structure has 4 lone pairs of electrons residing on the two oxygen atoms.

The lone pairs are localized and do not involve in delocalization during resonance.

Lone pairs are the non bonded electron pairs that do not participate in chemical bond formation.

Fe2O3 valence electrons :


Fe2O3
lewis structure involves a total of 24 valence electrons. Six valence electrons from the two Fe atoms participate in transferring to the valence atomic orbitals of O atoms.

The two oxygen atoms involves a total of 18 valence electrons.

Valence electrons are the outermost electrons in the valence orbitals that participate in any type of chemical bond formation such as ionic bonds, covalent bonds or coordinate bonds.

Fe2O3 solubility :

Fe2O3 lewis structure has high affinity for protons to be incorporated in its crystal domains. As such it is found to be soluble in most of the acids.

Few solvents in which Fe2O3 is soluble and insoluble are shown below :

SolventsSolubility
WaterInsoluble
Dilute mineral acids like HClSoluble
Sugar/Carbohydrate solutionSlightly soluble
Organic acids like Tartaric acid, Acetic acidFairly soluble
Different solvents and their solubility parameters.

Is Fe2O3 acidic or basic ?

Fe2O3 lewis structure is an amphoteric oxide as it reacts with both acid and bases. Therefore, it can be stated to be both acid and base depending on the experimental and environmental conditions.

Two reactions where in one Fe2O3 acts as base and in the other as an acid are shown below :

Fe2O3 + 6HCl ——-> 2FeCl3 + 3H2O ( where Fe2Oacts as base )

Fe2O3 + Na2CO3 ——–> 2NaFeO+ CO2 ( where Fe2O3 acts as an acid )

Is Fe2O3 linear ?

Fe2O3 lewis structure is not a linear molecule, rather it has a W shaped geometry similar to two bent molecules joined together by an atom.

In this case, two Fe=O units are joined together by an oxygen atom acting like a bridge.

Is Fe2O3 tetrahedral ?

Fe2O3 lewis structure is not a tetrahedral molecule. It is a bent shaped molecule exhibiting the ‘W” shape.

Is Fe2O3 polar or non polar ?

Fe2O3 lewis structure is a polar molecule as it is ionic in nature.

The dipole moments are oriented in a way that they do not cancel each other. Hence, Fe2O3 lewis structure is polar with a definite dipole moment.

Is Fe2O3 amphoteric ?

Fe2O3 lewis structure is an amphoteric oxides where it can act as a base as well as an acid as justified by the following reactions shown below :

Fe2O3 + 6HCl ——-> 2FeCl3 + 3H2O ( where Fe2Oacts as base )

Fe2O3 + Na2CO3 ——–> 2NaFeO+ CO2 ( where Fe2O3 acts as an acid )

Amphoteric nature is a very useful quality as it can be tuned as per the conditions.

Is Fe2O3 ionic ?

Fe2O3 lewis structure is an ionic molecule. Electrons are transferred completely to the atomic orbitals of oxygen atoms by the Fe atoms.

Transfer of electrons take place when atoms are connected through ionic bonds and thus involves electrostatic force of attraction that is a characteristic of ionic connectivity.

Fe2O3 lewis structure angle :

Fe2O3 lewis structure has several polymorphs out of which the alpha form has an angle close to 1490 .

Is Fe2O3 symmetrical or asymmetrical ?

Fe2O3 lewis structure is a symmetrical molecule.

It is a planar molecule containing a plane of symmetry as well as a mirror plane cutting through the central oxygen atom that gives similar reflection on both sides of the mirror plane.

Is Fe2O3 rust ?

Fe2O3 lewis structure is similar to rust as it has similar composition and characteristics. Original composition of rust is Fe2O3.xH2O .

Fe(III) oxides are defined as rust generally, but they are actually Hydrous ferric oxide. Hence, Fe2O3 can get hydrated in a well defined aqueous environment and act as a rust material.

hematite 1
Hematite ore picture from wikipedia

Is Fe2O3 antiferromagnetic ?

α – Fe2O3 is antiferromagnetic where the spin undergoes reorientation and cancels each other as the domain align themselves opposite to the applied magnetic field.

This results in zero magnetism and are repelled by the magnetic field.

Is Fe2O3 paramagnetic or diamagnetic ?

Fe(III) or Fe2O3 is paramagnetic in nature as they are strongly attracted by the external magnetic field applied. The domains are always aligned parallel to the magnetic field.

In fact, the Fe(III) oxides exhibit strong superparamagnetic behavior in the nanometer scale ( below 10 nm ).

Fe(III) ions are not diamagnetic in nature.

Conclusion :

Fe2O3 lewis structure is a symmetrical ionic molecule with paramagnetic nature and are widely used in manufacturing of nanomaterials, nanotechnology.

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