Q
QuestionChemistry

What is the difference between the compounds Fe^2O^3 and FeO? Why are they not both called simply iron oxide?
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Step 1
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Step 2
: Understand the Chemical Composition

- $$\text{FeO}$$ (Iron(II) oxide or ferrous oxide)
The two compounds have different ratios of iron (Fe) to oxygen (O):

Final Answer

The compounds \text{Fe}_{2}\text{O}_{3} and \text{FeO} are different because they have different iron oxidation states (+ 3 vs + 2), which results in distinct chemical properties, stability, and naming conventions. They cannot be called simply "iron oxide" because the specific oxidation state is crucial in identifying the precise chemical compound.