Mars is the color red because its regolith or surface

Last updated: 5/7/2023

Mars is the color red because its regolith or surface material contains lots of iron oxide the same compound that gives blood and rust their hue Rusting of iron involves an increase in iron oxidation accompanied by a loss of electrons Rust consists mainly of two different iron oxides These vary in the ron atom s oxidation state Iron II oxide or ferrous oxide with 2 oxidation state and Iron III oxide or erric oxide with 3 oxidation state Identify the oxidation numbers for each element in the equation Fe O H O Fe OH 3