The magnetite crystal consists of alternating alpha and beta bands. Iron in the alpha bands is in the ferric (+3) oxidation state. Iron in the beta bands has a mixed (+2.5) oxidation state. A mixed oxidation state is fine for groups of iron atoms, but not for single atoms. When the beta layer of a magnetite crystal dissolves individual iron atoms leaving the crystal must become either +2 or +3 ions. The total charge on the remaining crystal depends on which charge the exiting atom “chooses.” If it chooses +2, it will leave a charge of +0.5 behind in the remaining crystal. If it chooses +3, it will leave a charge of -0.5 behind.

It could be that the choice of charge is made the instant the iron atom leaves the crystal, and is simultaneous with the transfer of charge to the remaining crystal. However, it also is possible that iron atoms leave (or could be made to leave) the crystal in a superimposed quantum state of +2 AND +3, with the extra valence electron both in the crystal and in the exiting atom. In this case, because the charge of the remaining crystal depends on the charge choice of the exiting atom, it seems that the exiting atom will remain entangled with the remaining crystal until it choses an oxidation state. It also will remain entangled with any other iron atoms that leave the crystal in a superimposed state, with each exiting atom adding one electron to a cloud of electrons with undetermined positions spread over all of the atoms.

If this is true, could it lead to the formation of extravagantly exotic chemical species? For example, let’s say I completely disassemble (maybe with a laser) a magnetite beta layer containing 100 iron atoms. If I expose 99 of those atoms to a powerful reducing agent, could I briefly transfer an enormous positive charge to the remaining atom, perhaps even creating an ion of Fe26+, a bare Fe nucleus? Beyond being a fantastically potent oxidizer, what chemical properties would such a thing have? It would take a lot of energy to strip all of the electrons form an Fe atom. I’m not sure where that energy would come from. The reduction of the other atoms? I’m sure that there are all kinds of limits and constraints here that I’m not seeing, but maybe the basic principle is sound, that the dissolution of the beta layer of magnetite (or some analogous material) could generate a cloud of entangled atoms and, if so, this might have interesting and useful properties.