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Iron
Fe
Iron
Iron is the most used, most abundant and least expensive of all the metals. It is in fact the 4th most bountiful element in the Earth's crust, and scientists even believe that the Earth's core is mostly comprised of this metal. Interestingly, high levels of iron are also commonly found in meteorites, and it is found in the sun and stars. While it is frequently used in manufacturing, iron is also essential to plant and animal life. It is the active component of hemoglobin that transports oxygen from the lungs to various parts of the body. Iron can also be used to create alloys, such as steel.
Sources
Uses
History
Atomic Properties
Physical Properties
Iron has a multitude of uses, including biological and non-biological.
Biological
Uses of Iron
Non-Biological
Uses of Iron
- Colour: Greyish
- Lustre: Shiny
- Density: 7.87
- State at Room Temperature: Solid
- Melting Point: 1538°C
- Boiling Point: 2861°C
- Flame Colour: Burns a gold colour
- Rusts easily
- Pure iron corrodes quickly and is chemically reactive
The name "iron" derives from the Anglo-Saxon word iren, while the elemental symbol, Fe, is derived from the Latin word ferrum, which roughly translates to "firmness".
Iron is thought to have been discovered in the ancient times, as Ancient Egyptian iron artifacts have been dated back to 3500 B.C. However, these artifacts also contained 8% nickel, which suggests that the iron may have been originally from a meteorite. As such, no specific date or discoverer can be named. Around 1500 B.C., the Hittites of Asia Minor began melting iron ore to create iron tools, commencing the "Iron Age".
René Antoine Ferchault de Réaumur was the first recorded person to explain the various types of iron in a book published in 1722. Later that century, the beginning of the Industrial Revolution relied heavily on this metal.
- Atomic Number: 26
- Classification: Metal
- Symbol: Fe
- Period: 4
- Group: 8
- Number of Protons: 26
- Number of Neutrons: 30
- Number of Electrons Per Shell: 2, 8, 14, 2
- Atomic Mass: 55.845
Iron is a vital mineral for human, plant and animal health. Hemoglobin, which is made of iron and proteins, transports oxygen from the lungs to various parts of the body. Iron also is needed to produce ATP (adenosine triphosphate) molecules, which is the main source of energy in the human body. A lack of iron leads to iron deficiency anemia, which leaves the affected person feeling weak and tired.
This common metal has many non-biological uses as well. Because it can be easily alloyed with of metals and non-metals, iron has a wide variety of uses. Steel is a common iron alloy, which can be created by combining it with carbon, silicon, nickel, chromium, molybdenum and many others. Different types of steel and other iron alloys can be used in construction, automobiles, cookware, appliances, fencing, bridges, and even nuclear reactors.
- Periodic Table – Iron | Royal Society of Chemistry | www.rsc.org/periodic-table/element/26/iron
- Iron Facts | Thought Co. | www.thoughtco.com/iron-facts-606548
- Uses of Iron | Science Struck | www.sciencestruck.com/iron-uses
Image Sources
- Iron – Stock Image | iStock | www.istockphoto.com/ca/photo/iron-gm639850064-115565867
- Periodic Table | Wikipedia | www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Periodic_table
- Iron Facts | Thought Co. | www.thoughtco.com/iron-facts-606548
- What's to know about hemoglobin levels? | Medical News Today | www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/318050.php
- Classic 11-Piece Stainless Steel Cookware Set | Paderno | www.paderno.com/products/11-piece-stainless-steel-cookware-set
- Steel Frame Construction | Smarter Homes | www.smarterhomes.org.nz/smart-guides/construction-and-materials/light-steel-frame-construction/