Reactivity
When exposed to oxygen and water, iron oxidizes. This redox process can occur under either acidic or neutral/basic conditions:
- 2 Fe0(s) + 4 H+(aq) + O2(aq) → 2 Fe2+(aq) + 2 H2O(l)
- Fe0(s) + 2 H2O (aq) → Fe2+(aq) + H2(g) + 2 OH-(aq)
Read more about this topic: Nanoscale Iron Particles