Definition

Noun: * A red oxide of iron: A chemical compound composed of iron and oxygen with the formula Fe₂O₃. It is a common reddish-brown compound found naturally as the mineral hematite and is the primary component of rust.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The characteristic red color of Mars is due to the presence of ferric oxide dust on its surface.
  • Ferric oxide is widely used as a pigment in paints, coatings, and construction materials.
  • When iron corrodes in the presence of oxygen and water, it forms ferric oxide, commonly known as rust.

Advanced Usage

• As a polishing compound: Finely powdered ferric oxide, known as jeweler's rouge or red rouge, is used for polishing metals and glass.
  • The lapidary used ferric oxide to give the silver a final, mirror-like polish.
• In magnetic media: Certain forms of ferric oxide have been used in the magnetic coating of audio and video tapes.

Variants and Related Words

• Hematite (n): The primary mineral form of ferric oxide (Fe₂O₃).
• Rust (n): A common name for the hydrated form of ferric oxide that results from the corrosion of iron.
• Iron(III) oxide (n): The systematic IUPAC name for ferric oxide.

Synonyms

• Iron(III) oxide: The formal chemical name.
• Red iron oxide: A common name referring to its color and composition.

Related Compounds (Not Phrasal Verbs)

• Ferrous oxide (n): Iron(II) oxide (FeO), a different oxide of iron.
• Magnetite (n): Iron(II,III) oxide (Fe₃O₄), a magnetic oxide of iron.

Noun

1. a red oxide of iron