Question

Rusting is a chemical process that changes the strength and integrity of objects made of iron or iron alloys. Which of the following statements correctly describes the rusting process below? please help is for a test

Rusting is a chemical process that changes the strength and integrity of objects made of iron or iron alloys. Which of the following statements correctly describes the rusting process below?
4 Fe(s) + 3O2 (g) ----> 2 Fe2O3 (s)

Iron is oxidized because it gained electrons.

Iron is oxidized because it lost electrons.

Oxygen is oxidized because it gains electrons.

Oxygen is oxidized because it lost electrons.

Answer 1

Second answer.

Explanation:

Iron loses 3 electrons per atom, oxygen gains 2 per atom (and is thus reduced).

They turn into `Fe^(3+)` and `O^(2-)`, that combine in a 2:3 ratio to form `Fe_2O_3`

Note:
The very old definition of being oxidized was "binding with oxygen". Now the definition is a lot wider: "losing electrons".