Iron is a transition metal. You should have memorized the charges for copper and iron. Iron has an ion with a +2
charge called iron(II) ion or ferrous ion, and one with a +3 charge called
iron(III) ion
or ferric ion. Bromine, of course, has a -1 charge and is called bromide
ion.
Because there are two types of cations, two different compounds can be formed. When the
Fe2+ combines with bromide, you will get FeBr2. FeBr2 is
named iron(II) bromide because it is made of iron(II) ions and
bromide ions. It can also
be called ferrous bromide.
If the iron +3 ion combines with bromide, then that will give you FeBr3
because three bromide ions are needed to neutralize the charge on a +3 ion.
FeBr3
is named iron(III) bromide because it is made of iron(III) ions and
bromide ions. It can
also be called ferric bromide.