Full thermal decomposition of metal oxides?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on the thermal decomposition of metal oxides, specifically Fe3O4, into their base elements, including the temperature required for approximately 80% decomposition. Key resources mentioned include Ellingham diagrams, which illustrate the temperature and oxygen partial pressure conditions for the decomposition of iron oxides. These diagrams are noted to be particularly useful for understanding the behavior of iron oxides, which are well-studied. Additionally, direct computational methods involving electronic structure calculations are suggested for more precise determinations. A relevant paper from the journal Phys. Rev. B is referenced, which discusses transitions in the PO2-PH2O space, although it may not focus heavily on temperature. The importance of both temperature and oxygen partial pressure in the decomposition process is emphasized, providing a foundation for further investigation into thermal metal production methods.
hellfire2
Messages
3
Reaction score
0
I haven't been able to find much information on the thermal decomposition of metal oxides into their corresponding metals and oxygen. What temperature would Fe3O4 decompose mostly(80%) into its base elements? Additionally, how can this information be determined based upon bond energies/structures for other elements?
For those who are curious, I am looking into methods for producing metals thermally for use where reducers such as carbon are not present in high enough concentrations to be useful.
Thanks!
 
Chemistry news on Phys.org
Check Ellingham diagrams. They provide temperature-oxygen partial pressured regimes for metal oxides. Iron oxides are well-studied. So surely you will find the needed data.

Direct computations, requires full electronic structure calculations coupled with finite temperature effects. I think there was a paper in Phys. Rev. B journal on this calculation for iron oxide. I can try googling it if you are interested.
 
  • Like
Likes hellfire2
Whoops misclicked there. Yeah if you could point me in the right direction for those I would appreciate it. I did look at some of the Ellingham diagrams before but was not too sure about the iron oxides because they seem to run off most of the charts. I will further investigate the paper as well.
 
This Ellingham diagram contains all the decompositions of iron oxides starting from Fe2O3 through Fe3O4, FeO, and eventually to Fe.

http://web.mit.edu/2.813/www/readings/Ellingham_diagrams.pdf

The paper I mentioned cared more about the transitions in the PO2-PH2O space with little regard to temperature, but it may still be useful:
https://journals.aps.org/prb/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevB.83.094112

An arxiv version of the paper is here:
https://arxiv.org/pdf/1101.3105.pdfThe key thing is that the decomposition depends on both temperature and oxygen partial pressure. I hope this helps.
 
  • Like
Likes hellfire2
Useful nucleus said:
This Ellingham diagram contains all the decompositions of iron oxides starting from Fe2O3 through Fe3O4, FeO, and eventually to Fe.

http://web.mit.edu/2.813/www/readings/Ellingham_diagrams.pdf

The paper I mentioned cared more about the transitions in the PO2-PH2O space with little regard to temperature, but it may still be useful:
https://journals.aps.org/prb/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevB.83.094112

An arxiv version of the paper is here:
https://arxiv.org/pdf/1101.3105.pdfThe key thing is that the decomposition depends on both temperature and oxygen partial pressure. I hope this helps.
Thank you very much for this! This helps a bunch!
 
It seems like a simple enough question: what is the solubility of epsom salt in water at 20°C? A graph or table showing how it varies with temperature would be a bonus. But upon searching the internet I have been unable to determine this with confidence. Wikipedia gives the value of 113g/100ml. But other sources disagree and I can't find a definitive source for the information. I even asked chatgpt but it couldn't be sure either. I thought, naively, that this would be easy to look up without...
I was introduced to the Octet Rule recently and make me wonder, why does 8 valence electrons or a full p orbital always make an element inert? What is so special with a full p orbital? Like take Calcium for an example, its outer orbital is filled but its only the s orbital thats filled so its still reactive not so much as the Alkaline metals but still pretty reactive. Can someone explain it to me? Thanks!!
Back
Top