Thermodynamics of Fe oxides: Part II. Enthalpies of formation and relative stability of goethite (α-FeOOH), lepidocrocite (γ-FeOOH), and maghemite (γ-Fe2O3)

Juraj Majzlan, Klaus Dieter Grevel, Alexandra Navrotsky

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148 Scopus citations

Abstract

The enthalpy of formation from the elements at 298.15 K (ΔHof) of lepidocrocite (γ-FeOOH) and maghemite (γ-Fe2O3) has been measured by acid-solution calorimetry as -549.4 ± 1.4 and -808.1 ± 2.0 kJ/mol, respectively. The ΔHof of goethite (α-FeOOH) was measured by high-temperature transposed temperature drop and acid-solution calorimetry as -559.5 ± 1.1 and -560.7 ± 1.2 kJ/mol, respectively. Mathematical programming analysis (MAP) was used to generate an internally consistent data set for goethite and hematite, using the thermodynamic data presented in this study for goethite, and additional thermodynamic data for hematite and synthesis experiments of Baneyeva and Bendeliani (1973) (BB) and Voigt and Will (1981) (VW). Using BB brackets, the thermodynamic values for goethite were refined to ΔHof= -561.9 kJ/mol and entropy at standard pressure and temperature (So) = 59.2 J/K·mol; using VW brackets, we arrived at ΔHof= -561.4 kJ/mol and So = 59.5 J/(K·mol). However, MAP failed to include the magnetic transition in goethite, and the derived data should be used with caution. Combined with the entropies for the studied phases, the Gibbs free energies of formation from the elements at 298.15 K are -489.8 ± 1.2, -480.1 ± 1.4, and -727.9 ± 2.0 kJ/mol, for goethite, lepidocrocite, and maghemite, respectively. Only hematite (α-Fe2O3) and goethite have a stability field in the Fe2O3-H2O system at low to moderate pressures; maghemite and lepidocrocite are metastable at all pressures and temperatures. Goethite is 1.0 ± 1.4 kJ/mol metastable in ΔG with respect to hematite and liquid water, and 2.0 ± 1.4 kJ/mol metastable with respect to hematite and water vapor at 298 K and 50% relative humidity.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)855-859
Number of pages5
JournalAmerican Mineralogist
Volume88
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2003
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Geophysics
  • Geochemistry and Petrology

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