Historical Background
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Iron oxide was not really discovered by one specific person at one specific point in history. Iron oxide is just the result of raw iron metal coming in contact with the atmosphere, which contains oxygen. So, iron oxide has been around as long as both iron and oxygen have been on the planet.

There are many theories about when iron was discovered, but the two most prominent theories are the “mistaken identity” theory and the “forest fire” theory (5). The “mistaken identity” theory explains that the discovery of iron was when prehistoric man came across hematite, Fe₂O₃, mistaking it for copper pyrite, Cu2S, which was used for making tools. When the mistaken hematite was smelted, it formed iron metal, which over time would react with the oxygen in the air to form iron oxide. The “forest fire” theory describes that the discovery of iron occurred when a forest fire melted iron ore on the ground, producing iron metal which would then react with the oxygen in the atmosphere to form iron oxide. Therefore, wherever there is iron metal exposed to the air, there will be iron oxide.

Iron oxide pigments (14).

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