Ferrous
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ferrous is a term that means containing or having to do with iron. In chemistry the term is reserved for iron with oxidation number of +2, denoted Fe2+, whereas ferric indicates that it has oxidation number of +3, denoted Fe3+, which combine with other atoms to form molecules.
Ferrous oxide, formula FeO, is black colored and the main constituent of the mineral wüstite. Ferrous compounds are easily oxidized further to ferric compounds.
It's common for ferrous materials to be very magnetic, although not all of them. Different types of iron and steel are more or less magnetic. High-chromium stainless steel is nearly non-magnetic, while pure iron tends to form magnet easily. Iron with impurities usually stays magnetic better than pure iron.
