Editing Iron(III) oxide (section)

==Reactions==
The most important reaction is its [[carbothermal reduction]], which gives iron used in steel-making:
:{{chem2|Fe2O3 + 3 CO -> 2 Fe + 3 CO2}}

Another redox reaction is the extremely [[exothermic]] [[thermite]] reaction with [[aluminium]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Adlam |last2=Price |title=Higher School Certificate Inorganic Chemistry |publisher=Leslie Slater Price |year=1945 }}</ref>
:{{chem2|2 Al + Fe2O3 -> 2 Fe + Al2O3}}

This process is used to weld thick metals such as rails of train tracks by using a ceramic container to funnel the molten iron in between two sections of rail. Thermite is also used in weapons and making small-scale cast-iron sculptures and tools.

Partial reduction with hydrogen at about {{val|400|u=degC}} produces magnetite, a black magnetic material that contains both Fe(III) and Fe(II):<ref name=Brauer/>
:{{chem2|Fe2O3 + H2 -> 2 Fe3O4 + H2O}}

Iron(III) oxide is insoluble in water but dissolves readily in strong acid, e.g., hydrochloric and [[sulfuric acid]]s. It also dissolves well in solutions of chelating agents such as [[EDTA]] and [[oxalic acid]].

Heating iron(III) oxides with other metal oxides or carbonates yields materials known as [[ferrate]]s (ferrate (III)):<ref name=Brauer/>
:{{chem2|ZnO + Fe2O3 -> Zn(FeO2)2}}