Term: Verwey transition
https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.V06612

Definition:
An electron-ordering transition occurring in a mixed-valent system that results in an ordering of formal valence states in the low-temperature phase. Example: The prototype system, first identified by Verwey, is the ferrospinel magnetite, Fe3+[Fe3+Fe2+]O4 in which an ordering of Fe3+ and Fe2+ ions within octahedral sites is thought to occur below T v ≈ 120 K.

Related Terms:
1) valence (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.V06588).

Source: PAC, 1994, 66, 577. 'Definitions of terms relating to phase transitions of the solid state (IUPAC Recommendations 1994)' on page 593 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac199466030577)

Citation: 'Verwey transition' in IUPAC Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 5th ed. International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; 2025. Online version 5.0.0, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.V06612

License: The IUPAC Gold Book is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike CC BY-SA 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) for individual terms.

Disclaimer: The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) is continuously reviewing and, where needed, updating terms in the Compendium of Chemical Terminology (the IUPAC Gold Book). Users of these terms are encouraged to include the version of a term with its use and to check regularly for updates to term definitions that you are using.