Iron
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| General Properties | |
|---|---|
| Atomic number | 26 |
| Atomic mass | 55.845amu |
| Atomic radius | 126pm |
| Electron Configuration | [Ar] 3d6 4s2 |
| Density | 7.874g/cm3 |
| Melting point | 1538°C |
| Boiling point | 2861°C |
| First discovered/ developed | Ancient |
| Most common compound on Earth | Fe3O4 (Magnetite Ore) |
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Description and uses
Iron is the 26th element, and the most abundant element on Earth (by mass), mostly found in the mantle (the solid part of the Earth's interior). Iron is mainly formed as volcanic ores such as
magnetite. Its name comes from Latin “Ferrum” which directly translates to iron.
Iron's main use is in steel alloys, where it is alloyed with other elements like carbon and
chromium. As steel, iron is the most commercially used alloy in industry due to its cheapness and hardness, as well as
the fact that it is easy to cast into many shapes.
Iron Pyrite (aka “Fool's Gold”) is an ore that is well known for looking like gold, when it is actually an iron sulfide compound. It is also an indicator that there was no
oxygen in Earth's early atmosphere, as it quickly breaks down in the presence of oxygen.
Ferrous sulfate is an iron salt that is used in a variety of places. It can be used to darken dyes in cloths and fabrics, or it can be used in iron supplements
for our body to prevent anaemia, as iron is a key component of our blood.
Iron has 5 naturally occurring isotopes with atomic weight ranging from 54 to 60. The most common one is 56Fe, taking up around 91.8% of all iron
atoms. 60Fe is radioactive with a half life of 2.6 million years. It is used to calculate time frames of cosmic events.