Properties
Fe3O4 is ferrimagnetic with a Curie temperature of 858 K. There is a phase transition at 120K, the so-called Verwey transition where there is a discontinuity in the structure, conductivity and magnetic properties. This effect has been extensively investigated and whilst various explanations have been proposed, it does not appear to be fully understood.
Fe3O4 is an electrical conductor with a conductivity is significantly higher (X 106) than Fe2O3, and this is ascribed to electron exchange between the FeII and FeIII centres.
Read more about this topic: Iron(II,III) Oxide
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