Ferrous+Oxide


 * Ferrous Oxide**, also known as **Iron(II) oxide** or informally as **iron monoxide**, is one of the iron oxides. It is a black-colored powder with the chemical formula FeO. It consists of the chemical element iron in the oxidation state of 2 bonded to oxygen. Its mineral form is known as wüstite. Iron(II) oxide should not be confused with rust, which usually consists of hydrated iron(III) oxide (ferric oxide). The term may be used more loosely for a non-stoichiometric compound as the ratio of the elements iron and oxygen can vary; samples are typically iron deficient with compositions ranging from Fe0.84O to Fe0.95O.

Preparation
FeO can be prepared by heating iron(II) oxalate //in vacuo//: FeC2O4 → FeO + CO + CO2 Stoichiometric FeO can be prepared by heating Fe0.95O with metallic iron at 770 °C and 36 kbar.

Reactions
FeO is thermodynamically unstable below 575 °C, disproportionating to metal and Fe3O4: 4FeO → Fe + Fe3O4

Structure
Iron(II) oxide adopts the cubic, rock salt structure, where iron atoms are octahedrally coordinated by oxygen atoms and the oxygen atoms octahedrally coordinated by iron atoms. The non-stoichiometry occurs because of the ease of oxidation of FeII to FeIII effectively replacing a small portion of FeII with two thirds their number of FeIII, which take up tetrahedral positions in the close packed oxide lattice. Below 200 K there is a minor change to the structure which changes the symmetry to rhombohedral and samples become antiferromagnetic.

Occurrence in nature
Iron(II) oxide makes up approximately 9% of the Earth's mantle. Within the mantle, it may be electrically conductive, which is a possible explanation for perturbations in Earth's rotation not accounted for by accepted models of the mantle's properties.

Uses
Iron(II) oxide is used as a pigment. It is FDA-approved for use in cosmetics and it is used in some tattoo inks.