Question

Question #85621

Answer 1

The product is a combination of iron(II) oxide `FeO` and iron(III) oxide `Fe_2O_3`.

This reaction occures when steam is passed over hot iron:

`3Fe_((s))+4H_2O_((g))rightleftharpoonsFe_3O_(4(s))+4H_(2(g))`

That's a good question because rusting produces `Fe_2O_3`, as you stated, but the conditions are different as you need a combination of water and oxygen and the reaction happens much more slowly.