What is Iron?
Iron ranked fourth in the list of abundant chemicals on the earth’s crust. Iron is a hard yet brittle substance belonging to the metal group. We will discuss more about the chemical element iron in this article.
Where is Iron obtained?
Iron is commonly found in the earth’s crust. It is abundant in the sun and stars. It is primarily obtained from the minerals magnetite and hematite. A small amount of iron can also be found in the minerals limonite, taconite, and siderite.
History of Iron
Iron is one of the chemical elements that has long been used in ancient times. It’s been around for more than 5,000 years. Archeologists think that the Hittites of ancient Egypt discovered iron between 5000 and 3000 BCE. At that time, they used iron to create weapons and tools. They do so by pounding and hammering iron. Their source of iron was meteorites, and they used the ore to create weapons such as spearheads and trinkets.
Classification, Properties and Characteristics of Iron
Iron belongs to the soft metal group. It is ductile and a conductor of heat and electricity. It can be easily magnetized. It is highly reactive, and when exposed to moist air, it rusts easily, forming red-brown oxides. It comes in three allotropic forms: alpha, delta, and gamma.
Lewis Dot Structure of Iron
Bohr’s Atomic Model of Iron
Atomic Data of Iron
Physical Properties of Iron
| Color | Silvery gray |
| Odor | Human body-like odor |
| Taste | Metallic taste |
| Atomic Mass | 55.845 |
| Weight | 55.847 |
| Density | 7.87 |
| Atomic Radius | 1.26 Å |
| Ionization Energy | 7.9024 eV |
| Covalent Radius | 1.24 Å |
| Ionic Radius | 64 (+3e) and 74 (+2e) |
| Electronic Gain Enthalpy | 762.515KJ/mol |
| Electron Negativity | 1.96 (for oxidation state +3) and 1.83 (for oxidation state +2) |
| Electron Affinity | 14.564 kJ/mol |
| Melting Point | 1538°C, 2800°F, 1811 K |
| Boiling Point | 2861°C, 5182°F, 3134 K |
Chemical Properties of Iron
| Atomic Number | 26 |
| Group | 8 |
| Period | 4 |
| Block | d |
| Electronic Configuration | [Ar] 3d64s2 |
| Combustion | Highly Combustible |
| Chemical Reactivity | Highly Reactive |
| Valency of Element | +3 and +2 |
Different States of Iron
Iron is solid at room temperature. It has a +2 oxidation state, also known as the ferrous ion. The ferric ion is in the +3 oxidation state. It does melt once it reaches its melting point. Iron II oxide is called ferrous oxide, while iron III is ferric oxide.
Uses of Iron
- It is primarily used to manufacture steel and alloys necessary for construction and manufacturing.
- Iron plays an essential role in living organisms. It helps transport oxygen in the blood through molecules of hemoglobin.
- Iron is essential to plant and animal life.
- Iron is one of the components of carbon steel.
- Iron is used in civil engineering, such as in girders and reinforced concrete.
- Iron is an integral component of many things, such as bicycle chains, electricity pylons, bridges, rifle barrels, and cutting tools.
- Iron, specifically cast iron, is used for valves, pipes, and pumps.
- Iron serves as a catalyst in the haber process necessary for producing ammonia.
- Iron is used to create magnets.
- Iron plays a crucial role in the manufacturing of heavy equipment, including transportation equipment.
Price of Iron
The cost of iron varies depending on supply and demand. Pure iron usually costs around $7.2 per 100 grams. The price is way cheaper if you buy in bulk.
Interesting facts about Iron
- Don’t you know that one-third of the mass of the earth is made up of iron?
- Don’t you know that the earth has plenty of iron—enough to make three new planets?
- Don’t you know that it is believed that the planet’s magnetic field is caused by the circulation of liquid iron in the earth?
- The human brain needs iron to develop. Iron deficiency in children causes impaired learning ability.
- In ancient times, iron was considered eight times more valuable than gold.
- Don’t you know that iron was taught to be a gift from God because it comes from the sky?
- Don’t you know that iron was the very first magnetic metal to be discovered?
- Namibia has the largest naturally occurring iron in the world, the Hoba meteorite. It weighs over 60 tons. It consists of 83% iron, and the rest is a combination of different elements like cobalt, nickel, and traces of other elements.
- Don’t you know that iron is ferromagnetic? It’s the strongest type of magnetism.
- Powerful magnets have iron in them along with other elements like cobalt and nickel.
- Some medical equipment contains iron.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What makes iron a unique element?
Iron is unique from other chemical elements, including those that belong to the metal group. It is extremely hard but brittle, and there’s plenty of it on earth. It is the fourth most common element in the crust of the earth in terms of weight. In fact, the earth’s core is made up of iron. Iron is also present in the sun and stars.
Q2. Why does iron have a high melting point?
Metals like iron have a high melting point because it is needed to overcome the attraction between electrons and ions. The forces are so strong that it requires extremely high boiling and melting points.
Q3. Are there any types of iron?
There are various types of iron, such as plain iron, cast iron, wrought iron, direct reduced iron, and pig iron. Fresh iron manufactured in an electric arc furnace is referred to as “plain iron.” The iron is brought to a melting point at an adequate temperature.
Q4. Is iron reactive with other elements?
Iron is a highly reactive element. It reacts with substances of various classes. Other chemical elements it is highly reactive with include halogens, phosphorus, carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen.
Q5. What is the most important property of iron?
Iron has many properties, but one of the most important is its softness. Although iron is extremely durable, it is a soft metal. It is combined with other elements to make it ultra-strong so that it can be used in various applications.
References
- https://www.rsc.org/periodic-table/element/26/iron
- https://www.britannica.com/science/iron-chemical-element
- https://www.livescience.com/29263-iron.html
- https://www.chemicool.com/elements/iron.html
- https://www.thoughtco.com/iron-facts-606548
- https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/element/Iron
- https://www.lenntech.com/periodic/elements/fe.htm
- https://byjus.com/chemistry/iron/
- https://education.jlab.org/itselemental/ele026.html
- 10. https://www.ducksters.com/science/chemistry/iron.php