26 manganese ← iron → cobalt - ↑ Fe ↓ Ru Periodic table - Extended periodic table
General
Name, symbol, number	iron, Fe, 26
Chemical series	transition metals
Group, period, block	8, 4, d
Appearance	lustrous metallic with a grayish tinge
Standard atomic weight	55.845(2) g·mol−1
Electron configuration	[Ar] 3d6 4s2
Electrons per shell	2, 8, 14, 2
Physical properties
Phase	solid
Density (near r.t.)	7. Manganese (ˈmæŋgəniːz is a Chemical element, designated by the symbol Mn. Cobalt (ˈkoʊbɒlt is a hard lustrous silver-grey Metal, a Chemical element with symbol Co. Ruthenium (ruːˈθiːniəm is a Chemical element that has the symbol Ru and Atomic number 44 This is a typical display of the periodic table of the elements and contains the symbol and Atomic number of each element Wikipedia talkFeatured lists for an explanation of this and other inclusion tags below -->This is a list of Chemical elements, sorted by name Wikipedia talkFeatured lists for an explanation of this and other inclusion tags below -->This is a list of chemical elements by symbol, including the A table of Chemical elements ordered by Atomic number and color coded according to type of element In Chemistry a group, also known as a family, is a vertical column in the Periodic table of the Chemical elements There are 18 groups in In Chemistry, the term transition metal (sometimes also called a transition element) has two possible meanings It commonly refers to any element in In Chemistry a group, also known as a family, is a vertical column in the Periodic table of the Chemical elements There are 18 groups in In the Periodic table of the elements, a period is a horizontal row of the table A block of the Periodic table of elements is a set of adjacent groups The respective highest-energy electrons in each element in a block belong to the same Atomic "Group 8" redirects here For the Swedish organization see Group 8 (Sweden. A period 4 element is one of the Chemical elements in the fourth row (or period) of the periodic table of the elements. The d-block of the periodic table of the elements consists of those Periodic table groups that contain elements in which in the atomic ground state the highest-energy The atomic mass (ma is the Mass of an atom most often expressed in unified atomic mass units The atomic mass may be considered to be the total mass To help compare different orders of magnitude, the following list describes various Mass levels between 10&minus36&thinsp kg and 1053&thinspkg Molar mass, symbol M, is the Mass of one mole of a substance ( Chemical element or Chemical compound) In Atomic physics and Quantum chemistry, electron configuration is the arrangement of Electrons in an Atom, Molecule, or other This article pertains to the chemical element For other uses see Argon (disambiguation. The electron is a fundamental Subatomic particle that was identified and assigned the negative charge in 1897 by J An electron shell may be crudely thought of as an Orbit followed by Electrons around an Atom nucleus. In the Physical sciences a phase is a Set of states of a macroscopic physical system that have relatively uniform chemical composition and physical properties A solid' object is in the States of matter characterized by resistance to Deformation and changes of Volume. The density of a material is defined as its Mass per unit Volume: \rho = \frac{m}{V} Different materials usually have different Room temperature (also referred to as ambient temperature) is a common term to denote a certain Temperature within enclosed space at which humans are accustomed 874 g·cm−3
Liquid density at m.p.	6. Kilogram per cubic metre is the SI measure of Density and is represented as kg/m³ where kg stands for Kilogram and m³ stands for Cubic metre The density of a material is defined as its Mass per unit Volume: \rho = \frac{m}{V} Different materials usually have different The melting point of a solid is the temperature range at which it changes state from solid to Liquid. 98 g·cm−3
Melting point	1811 K (1538 °C, 2800 °F)
Boiling point	3134 K (2862 °C, 5182 °F)
Heat of fusion	13. The melting point of a solid is the temperature range at which it changes state from solid to Liquid. The kelvin (symbol K) is a unit increment of Temperature and is one of the seven SI base units The Kelvin scale is a thermodynamic The Celsius Temperature scale was previously known as the centigrade scale. Fahrenheit is a temperature scale named after Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit (1686–1736 a German Physicist who proposed it in 1724 The boiling point of a liquid is the temperature at which the Vapor pressure of the liquid equals the environmental pressure surrounding the liquid The kelvin (symbol K) is a unit increment of Temperature and is one of the seven SI base units The Kelvin scale is a thermodynamic The Celsius Temperature scale was previously known as the centigrade scale. Fahrenheit is a temperature scale named after Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit (1686–1736 a German Physicist who proposed it in 1724 The standard Enthalpy of fusion (symbol \Delta{}H_{fus} also known as the heat of fusion or specific melting heat, is the amount of 81 kJ·mol−1
Heat of vaporization	340 kJ·mol−1
Specific heat capacity	(25 °C) 25. The joule per mole (symbol J·mol-1 is an SI derived unit of energy per amount of material The enthalpy of vaporization, (symbol \Delta{}_{v}H also known as the heat of vaporization or heat of evaporation, is the Energy required The joule per mole (symbol J·mol-1 is an SI derived unit of energy per amount of material Specific heat capacity, also known simply as specific heat, is the measure of the heat energy required to increase the Temperature of a unit quantity 10 J·mol−1·K−1
Vapor pressure P/Pa 1 10 100 1 k 10 k 100 k at T/K 1728 1890 2091 2346 2679 3132
Atomic properties
Crystal structure	body-centered cubic a=286. Vapor pressure (also known as equilibrium vapor pressure or saturation vapor pressure) is the Pressure of a Vapor in equilibrium In Mineralogy and Crystallography, a crystal structure is a unique arrangement of Atoms in a Crystal. The cubic crystal system (or isometric) is a Crystal system where the Unit cell is in the shape of a Cube. 65 pm; face-centered cubic between 1185–1667 K
Oxidation states	6, 5 [1], 4, 3, 2, 1 [2] (amphoteric oxide)
Electronegativity	1. The cubic crystal system (or isometric) is a Crystal system where the Unit cell is in the shape of a Cube. The oxidation number of a central atom in a coordination compound is the charge that it would have if all the Ligands were removed along with the Electron pairs " Electronegativity " is the opposite of " Electropositivity," which describes an element's ability to donate electrons 83 (Pauling scale)
Ionization energies (more)	1st: 762. The ionization potential, ionization energy or EI of an Atom or Molecule is the Energy required to remove an Electron These tables list the Ionization energy in kJ/mol necessary to remove one mole of Electrons from one mole of neutral gaseous Atoms (first energy respectively 5 kJ·mol−1
	2nd: 1561. The joule per mole (symbol J·mol-1 is an SI derived unit of energy per amount of material 9 kJ·mol−1
	3rd: 2957 kJ·mol−1
Atomic radius	140 pm
Atomic radius (calc. Atomic radius, and more generally the size of an atom, is not a precisely defined Physical quantity, nor is it constant in all circumstances A picometre ( American spelling: picometer, symbol pm) is a unit of Length in the Metric system, equal to one trillionth )	156 pm
Covalent radius	125 pm
Miscellaneous
Magnetic ordering	ferromagnetic
	1043 K
Electrical resistivity	(20 °C) 96. The covalent radius, r cov is a measure of the size of Atom which forms part of a Covalent bond. In Physics, magnetism is one of the Phenomena by which Materials exert attractive or repulsive Forces on other Materials. Ferromagnetism is the basic mechanism by which certain materials (such as Iron) form Permanent magnets and/or exhibit strong interactions with Magnets it Electrical resistivity (also known as specific electrical resistance) is a measure of how strongly a material opposes the flow of Electric current. 1 nΩ·m
Thermal conductivity	(300 K) 80. In Physics, thermal conductivity, k is the property of a material that indicates its ability to conduct Heat. 4 W·m−1·K−1
Thermal expansion	(25 °C) 11. When the Temperature of a substance changes the energy that is stored in the Intermolecular bonds between atoms changes 8 µm·m−1·K−1
Speed of sound (thin rod)	(r.t.) (electrolytic) 5120 m·s−1
Young's modulus	211 GPa
Shear modulus	82 GPa
Bulk modulus	170 GPa
Poisson ratio	0. Sound is a vibration that travels through an elastic medium as a Wave. Room temperature (also referred to as ambient temperature) is a common term to denote a certain Temperature within enclosed space at which humans are accustomed In Solid mechanics, Young's modulus (E is a measure of the Stiffness of an isotropic elastic material In Materials science, shear modulus or modulus of rigidity, denoted by G, or sometimes S or μ, is defined as the ratio of Shear Poisson's ratio ( ν) named after Simeon Poisson, is the ratio of the relative contraction strain, or transverse strain (normal to 29
Mohs hardness	4. The Mohs scale of mineral hardness characterizes the scratch resistance of various Minerals through the ability of a harder material to scratch a softer material 0
Vickers hardness	608 MPa
Brinell hardness	490 MPa
CAS registry number	7439-89-6
Selected isotopes
Main article: Isotopes of iron iso NA half-life DM DE (MeV) DP 54Fe 5. The Vickers hardness test was developed in 1924 by Smith and Sandland as an alternative method to measure the Hardness of materials The Brinell scale characterizes the indentation Hardness of materials through the scale of penetration of an indenter loaded on a material test-piece CAS registry numbers are unique numerical identifiers for Chemical compounds Polymers biological sequences mixtures and Alloys They are also referred to Naturally occurring Iron ( Fe) consists of four Isotopes 5845% of radioactive 54Fe (half-life >3 Isotopes (Greek isos = "equal" tópos = "site place" are any of the different types of atoms ( Nuclides In Chemistry, natural abundance (NA refers to the abundance Isotopes of a Chemical element as naturally found on a planet Half-Life (computer-game page here It's already listed in the disambiguation page Radioactive decay is the process in which an unstable Atomic nucleus loses energy by emitting ionizing particles and Radiation. The decay energy is the Energy released by a Nuclear decay. The energy difference of the Reactants is often written as Q: where Q In Nuclear physics, a decay product, also known as a daughter product, daughter isotope or daughter nuclide, is a Nuclide 8% >3. 1×1022y 2ε capture  ? 54Cr 55Fe syn 2. A year (from Old English gēr) is the time between two recurrences of an event related to the Orbit of the Earth around the Sun Chromium (ˈkroʊmiəm is a Chemical element which has the symbol Cr and Atomic number 24 A synthetic radioisotope is a Radionuclide that is not found in nature no natural process or mechanism exists which produces it or it is so unstable that it decays away in 73 y ε capture 0. 231 55Mn 56Fe 91. Manganese (ˈmæŋgəniːz is a Chemical element, designated by the symbol Mn. 72% 56Fe is stable with 30 neutrons 57Fe 2. Stable isotopes are chemical isotopes that are not Radioactive (to current knowledge This article is a discussion of neutrons in general For the specific case of a neutron found outside the nucleus see Free neutron. 2% 57Fe is stable with 31 neutrons 58Fe 0. Stable isotopes are chemical isotopes that are not Radioactive (to current knowledge This article is a discussion of neutrons in general For the specific case of a neutron found outside the nucleus see Free neutron. 28% 58Fe is stable with 32 neutrons 59Fe syn 44. Stable isotopes are chemical isotopes that are not Radioactive (to current knowledge This article is a discussion of neutrons in general For the specific case of a neutron found outside the nucleus see Free neutron. A synthetic radioisotope is a Radionuclide that is not found in nature no natural process or mechanism exists which produces it or it is so unstable that it decays away in 503 d β- 1. In Nuclear physics, beta decay is a type of Radioactive decay in which a Beta particle (an Electron or a Positron) is emitted 565 59Co 60Fe syn 1. Cobalt (ˈkoʊbɒlt is a hard lustrous silver-grey Metal, a Chemical element with symbol Co. A synthetic radioisotope is a Radionuclide that is not found in nature no natural process or mechanism exists which produces it or it is so unstable that it decays away in 5×106 y β- 3. In Nuclear physics, beta decay is a type of Radioactive decay in which a Beta particle (an Electron or a Positron) is emitted 978 60Co
References
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Iron (pronounced /ˈаɪɚn/) is a chemical element with the symbol Fe (Latin: ferrum) and atomic number 26. Cobalt (ˈkoʊbɒlt is a hard lustrous silver-grey Metal, a Chemical element with symbol Co. Recommended values for many properties of the elements together with various references are collected on these data pages A chemical element is a type of Atom that is distinguished by its Atomic number; that is by the number of Protons in its nucleus. Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. See also List of elements by atomic number In Chemistry and Physics, the atomic number (also known as the proton Iron is a group 8 and period 4 element. "Group 8" redirects here For the Swedish organization see Group 8 (Sweden. A period 4 element is one of the Chemical elements in the fourth row (or period) of the periodic table of the elements. Iron is a lustrous, silvery soft metal. It is one of the few ferromagnetic elements. Ferromagnetism is the basic mechanism by which certain materials (such as Iron) form Permanent magnets and/or exhibit strong interactions with Magnets it

Iron and nickel are notable for being the final elements produced by stellar nucleosynthesis, and are therefore the heaviest elements which do not require a red giant or supernova for formation. Nickel (ˈnɪkəl is a metallic Chemical element with the symbol Ni and Atomic number 28 Stellar nucleosynthesis is the collective term for the nuclear reactions taking place in Stars to build the nuclei of the heavier elements. A red giant is a luminous Giant star of low or intermediate mass (roughly 0 A supernova (plural supernovae or supernovas) is a stellar Explosion. Iron and nickel are therefore the most abundant metals in metallic meteorites and in the dense-metal cores of planets such as Earth. Iron and iron alloys are also the most common source of ferromagnetic materials in everyday use. An alloy is a Solid solution or Homogeneous mixture of two or more elements, at least one of which is a Metal, which itself has Ferromagnetism is the basic mechanism by which certain materials (such as Iron) form Permanent magnets and/or exhibit strong interactions with Magnets it

Occurrence

See also: Category:Iron minerals

Iron is believed to be the sixth most abundant element in the universe, formed as the final act of nucleosynthesis by carbon burning in massive stars. See also Abundances of the elements (data page The abundance of a Chemical element measures how relatively common the element is or how much of the element The Universe is defined as everything that Physically Exists: the entirety of Space and Time, all forms of Matter, Energy Nucleosynthesis is the process of creating new atomic nuclei from preexisting Nucleons (protons and neutrons Carbon (kɑɹbən is a Chemical element with the symbol C and its Atomic number is 6 While it makes up only about 5% of the Earth's crust, the earth's core is believed to consist largely of an iron-nickel alloy constituting 35% of the mass of the Earth as a whole. In Geology, a crust is the outermost solid shell of a planet or moon The inner core of the Earth, its innermost layer as detected by seismological studies, is a primarily solid Sphere about in radius only about 70% Nickel (ˈnɪkəl is a metallic Chemical element with the symbol Ni and Atomic number 28 Iron is consequently the most abundant element on Earth, but only the fourth most abundant element in the Earth's crust. ^[1] Most of the iron in the crust is found combined with oxygen as iron oxide minerals such as hematite and magnetite. Oxygen (from the Greek roots ὀξύς (oxys (acid literally "sharp" from the taste of acids and -γενής (-genēs (producer literally begetteris the Altogether there are sixteen known Iron Oxides and oxyhydroxides Hematite, also spelt hæmatite, is the Mineral form of Iron(III oxide (Fe2O3 one of several Iron oxides Magnetite is not to be confused with Magnesite or Maghemite. Magnetite is a ferrimagnetic Mineral with chemical About 1 in 20 meteorites consist of the unique iron-nickel minerals taenite (35-80% iron) and kamacite (90-95% iron). A meteorite is a natural object originating in Outer space that survives an impact with the Earth 's surface Taenite ( Fe, Ni) is a Mineral found naturally on Earth mostly in Iron meteorites It is an Alloy of Iron and Nickel Kamacite is a Mineral. It is an Alloy of Iron and Nickel, usually in the proportions of 9010 to 955 although impurities such as Cobalt Although rare, meteorites are the major form of natural metallic iron on the earth's surface. A meteorite is a natural object originating in Outer space that survives an impact with the Earth 's surface

The reason for Mars' red colour is thought to be an iron-oxide-rich soil.

The red appearance of this water is due to iron in the rocks.

Characteristics

Iron is a metal extracted mainly from the iron ore hematite. The M acro E xpansion T emplate A ttribute L anguage complements TAL, providing macros which allow the reuse of code across Iron ores are rocks and Minerals from which Metallic Iron can be economically extracted Hematite, also spelt hæmatite, is the Mineral form of Iron(III oxide (Fe2O3 one of several Iron oxides It oxidises readily in air and water to form Fe₂O₃ and is rarely found as a free element. In order to obtain elemental iron, oxygen and other impurities must be removed by chemical reduction. Oxygen (from the Greek roots ὀξύς (oxys (acid literally "sharp" from the taste of acids and -γενής (-genēs (producer literally begetteris the Redox (shorthand for reduction-oxidation reaction describes all Chemical reactions in which atoms have their Oxidation number ( Oxidation state The properties of iron can be modified by alloying it with various other metals and some non-metals, notably carbon and silicon to form steels. An alloy is a Solid solution or Homogeneous mixture of two or more elements, at least one of which is a Metal, which itself has Carbon (kɑɹbən is a Chemical element with the symbol C and its Atomic number is 6 Silicon (ˈsɪlɪkən or /ˈsɪlɪkɒn/ silicium is the Chemical element that has the symbol Si and Atomic number 14 Steel is an Alloy consisting mostly of Iron, with a Carbon content between 0

Nuclei of iron have some of the highest binding energies per nucleon, surpassed only by the nickel isotope ⁶²Ni. Naturally occurring Nickel ( Ni) is composed of 5 stable Isotopes 58Ni 60Ni 61Ni 62Ni and 64Ni The universally most abundant of the highly stable nuclides is, however, ⁵⁶Fe. This is formed by nuclear fusion in stars. Although a further tiny energy gain could be extracted by synthesizing ⁶²Ni, conditions in stars are unsuitable for this process to be favoured, and iron abundance on Earth greatly favors iron over nickel, and also presumably in supernova element production. ^[2]

Iron (as Fe²⁺, ferrous ion) is a necessary trace element used by almost all living organisms. In Analytical chemistry, a trace element is an element in a sample that has an average Concentration of less than 100 Parts per million atoms The only exceptions are several organisms that live in iron-poor environments and have evolved to use different elements in their metabolic processes, such as manganese instead of iron for catalysis, or hemocyanin instead of hemoglobin. Hemocyanins (also spelled haemocyanins) are respiratory Proteins in the form of Metalloproteins containing two Copper atoms that reversibly Iron-containing enzymes, usually containing heme prosthetic groups, participate in catalysis of oxidation reactions in biology, and in transport of a number of soluble gases. A heme ( American English) or haem ( British English) is a Prosthetic group that consists of an Iron atom contained in the center of See hemoglobin, cytochrome, and catalase. Hemoglobin ( also spelled haemoglobin and abbreviated Hb or Hgb) is the Iron -containing Oxygen -transport Metalloprotein Cytochromes are in general membrane-bound Hemoproteins that contain Heme groups and carry out Electron transport. Catalase is a common Enzyme found in nearly all living organisms where it functions to catalyze the decomposition of Hydrogen peroxide to

Allotropes

Main article: Allotropes of iron

Iron represents perhaps the best-known example of allotropy in a metal. See also Iron Iron represents perhaps the best-known example for Allotropy in a metal Allotropy (Gr allos, other and tropos, manner is a behavior exhibited by certain Chemical elements these elements can exist in two or more different There are three allotropic forms of iron, known as alpha, gamma, and delta.

As molten iron cools down it crystallises at 1538°C into its delta allotrope, which has a body-centred cubic (BCC) crystal structure. The cubic crystal system (or isometric) is a Crystal system where the Unit cell is in the shape of a Cube. As it cools further its crystal structure changes to face-centred cubic (FCC) at 1394°C, when it is known as gamma-iron, or austenite. In Mineralogy and Crystallography, a crystal structure is a unique arrangement of Atoms in a Crystal. The cubic crystal system (or isometric) is a Crystal system where the Unit cell is in the shape of a Cube. At 912°C the crystal structure again becomes BCC as alpha-iron is formed, and at 770°C (the Curie point, Tc) the iron becomes magnetic. In Physics, magnetism is one of the Phenomena by which Materials exert attractive or repulsive Forces on other Materials. As the iron passes through the Curie temperature there is no change in crystalline structure, but there is a change in 'domain structure', where each domain contains iron atoms with a particular electronic spin. In unmagnetised iron, all the electronic spins of the atoms within one domain are in the same direction. However, in neighbouring domains they point in various directions and thus cancel out. In magnetised iron, the electronic spins of all the domains are all aligned, so that the magnetic effects of neighbouring domains reinforce each other. Although each domain contains billions of atoms, they are very small, about one thousandth of a centimetre across.

Iron is of most importance when mixed with certain other metals and with carbon to form steels. There are many types of steels, all with different properties; and an understanding of the properties of the allotropes of iron is key to the manufacture of good quality steels. See also Iron Iron represents perhaps the best-known example for Allotropy in a metal

Alpha iron, also known as ferrite, is the most stable form of iron at normal temperatures. It is a fairly soft metal that can dissolve only a small concentration of carbon (no more than 0. 021% by mass at 910 °C).

Above 912°C and up to 1401°C alpha iron undergoes a phase transition from body-centred cubic to the face-centred cubic configuration of gamma iron, also called austenite. In Thermodynamics, phase transition or phase change is the transformation of a thermodynamic system from one phase to another Austenite (or gamma phase iron is a metallic non-magnetic solid solution of Iron and an Alloying element This is similarly soft and metallic but can dissolve considerably more carbon (as much as 2. 04% by mass at 1146°C). This form of iron is used in the type of stainless steel used for making cutlery, and hospital and food-service equipment. In Metallurgy, stainless steel is defined as a Steel Alloy with a minimum of 11

Applications

Iron is the most widely used of all the metals, accounting for 95% of worldwide metal production. Its low cost and high strength make it indispensable in engineering applications such as the construction of machinery and machine tools, automobiles, the hulls of large ships, and structural components for buildings. A hull is the body of a Ship or Boat. It is a central concept in floating vessels as it provides the Buoyancy that keeps the vessel from sinking A ship /ʃɪp/ is a large vessel that floats on water Ships are generally distinguished from Boats based on size In Architecture, Construction, Engineering and real estate development the word building may refer to one of the following Any man-made Since pure iron is quite soft, it is most commonly used in the form of steel. Steel is an Alloy consisting mostly of Iron, with a Carbon content between 0 Some of the forms in which iron is produced commercially include:

• Pig iron has 3. Pig iron is the intermediate product of Smelting Iron ore with coke, usually with Limestone as a flux 5—4. 5% carbon^[3] and contains varying amounts of contaminants such as sulfur, silicon and phosphorus. Sulfur or sulphur (ˈsʌlfɚ see spelling below) is the Chemical element that has the Atomic number 16 Silicon (ˈsɪlɪkən or /ˈsɪlɪkɒn/ silicium is the Chemical element that has the symbol Si and Atomic number 14 Phosphorus, (ˈfɒsfərəs is the Chemical element that has the symbol P and Atomic number 15 Its only significance is that of an intermediate step on the way from iron ore to cast iron and steel. Iron ores are rocks and Minerals from which Metallic Iron can be economically extracted Cast iron usually refers to grey cast iron, but identifies a large group of Ferrous Alloys which solidify with a Eutectic. Steel is an Alloy consisting mostly of Iron, with a Carbon content between 0
• Cast iron contains 2—4% carbon, 1—6% silicon, and small amounts of manganese. Cast iron usually refers to grey cast iron, but identifies a large group of Ferrous Alloys which solidify with a Eutectic. Carbon (kɑɹbən is a Chemical element with the symbol C and its Atomic number is 6 Silicon (ˈsɪlɪkən or /ˈsɪlɪkɒn/ silicium is the Chemical element that has the symbol Si and Atomic number 14 Manganese (ˈmæŋgəniːz is a Chemical element, designated by the symbol Mn. Contaminants present in pig iron that negatively affect material properties, such as sulfur and phosphorus, have been reduced to an acceptable level. It has a melting point in the range of 1420—1470 K, which is lower than either of its two main components, and makes it the first product to be melted when carbon and iron are heated together. Its mechanical properties vary greatly, dependent upon the form carbon takes in the alloy. Carbon (kɑɹbən is a Chemical element with the symbol C and its Atomic number is 6 'White' cast irons contain their carbon in the form of cementite, or iron carbide. Cementite or iron carbide is a Chemical compound with the formula Fe3C (or Fe2CFe and an Orthorhombic crystal structure This hard, brittle compound dominates the mechanical properties of white cast irons, rendering them hard, but unresistant to shock. The broken surface of a white cast iron is full of fine facets of the broken carbide, a very pale, silvery, shiny material, hence the appellation. In grey iron the carbon exists free as fine flakes of graphite, and also renders the material brittle due to the stress-raising nature of the sharp edged flakes of graphite. Gray iron or grey iron was the original " Cast iron " The Mineral graphite, as with Diamond and Fullerene, is one of the Allotropes of carbon. A newer variant of grey iron, referred to as ductile iron is specially treated with trace amounts of magnesium to alter the shape of graphite to spheroids, or nodules, vastly increasing the toughness and strength of the material. Ductile iron, also called ductile cast iron, spheroidal graphite iron, or nodular cast iron, is a type of Cast iron invented in 1943 by Magnesium (mægˈniːziəm is a Chemical element with the symbol Mg, Atomic number 12 Atomic weight 24
• Wrought iron contains less than 0. QtubIronPillarJPG|thumb|right| Iron pillar at Delhi India containing 98% wrought iron]] Wrought iron is commercially pure Iron. 25% carbon. ^[3] It is a tough, malleable product, but not as fusible as pig iron. If honed to an edge, it loses it quickly. Wrought iron is characterised by the presence of fine fibers of slag entrapped in the metal. Slag is the By-product of Smelting Ore to purify Metals They can be considered to be a mixture of metal Oxides however Wrought iron is more corrosion resistant than steel. It has been almost completely replaced by mild steel for traditional "wrought iron" products and blacksmithing. Carbon steel, also called plain carbon steel, is Steel where the main alloying constituent is Carbon. blacksmith is a person who creates objects from Iron or Steel by Forging the Metal; i Mild steel does not have the same corrosion resistance but is cheaper and more widely available.
• Carbon steel contains 2. Carbon steel, also called plain carbon steel, is Steel where the main alloying constituent is Carbon. 0% carbon or less,^[4] with small amounts of manganese, sulfur, phosphorus, and silicon. Carbon (kɑɹbən is a Chemical element with the symbol C and its Atomic number is 6 Manganese (ˈmæŋgəniːz is a Chemical element, designated by the symbol Mn. Sulfur or sulphur (ˈsʌlfɚ see spelling below) is the Chemical element that has the Atomic number 16 Phosphorus, (ˈfɒsfərəs is the Chemical element that has the symbol P and Atomic number 15 Silicon (ˈsɪlɪkən or /ˈsɪlɪkɒn/ silicium is the Chemical element that has the symbol Si and Atomic number 14
• Alloy steels contain varying amounts of carbon as well as other metals, such as chromium, vanadium, molybdenum, nickel, tungsten, etc. Steel is an Alloy consisting mostly of Iron, with a Carbon content between 0 Chromium (ˈkroʊmiəm is a Chemical element which has the symbol Cr and Atomic number 24 Vanadium (vəˈneɪdiəm is a Chemical element that has the symbol V and Atomic number 23 Molybdenum (məˈlɪbdənəm from the Greek word for the metal " Lead " is a Group 6 Chemical element with the symbol Mo Nickel (ˈnɪkəl is a metallic Chemical element with the symbol Ni and Atomic number 28 Tungsten (ˈtʌŋstən also known as wolfram (/ˈwʊlfrəm/ is a Chemical element that has the symbol W and Atomic number 74 They are used for structural purposes, as their alloy content raises their cost and necessitates justification of their use. Recent developments in ferrous metallurgy have produced a growing range of microalloyed steels, also termed 'HSLA' or high-strength, low alloy steels, containing tiny additions to produce high strengths and often spectacular toughness at minimal cost.
• Iron(III) oxides are used in the production of magnetic storage media in computers. Iron(III oxide —also known as ferric oxide, Hematite, red iron oxide, synthetic maghemite, colcothar, or simply Rust —is Magnetic storage and magnetic recording are terms from Engineering referring to the storage of Data on a Magnetized medium They are often mixed with other compounds, and retain their magnetic properties in solution.

The main disadvantage of iron and steel is that pure iron, and most of its alloys, suffer badly from rust if not protected in some way. Rust is a general term for a series of Iron oxides, usually red oxides formed by the reaction of Iron with Oxygen in the presence of water or air Painting, galvanization, passivation, plastic coating and bluing are some techniques used to protect iron from rust by excluding water and oxygen or by sacrificial protection. Paint is any Liquid, liquifiable or mastic composition which after application to a substrate in a thin layer is converted to an opaque Solid Passivation is the process of making a material "passive" in relation to another material prior to using the materials together Bluing is a Passivation process in which steel is partially protected against Rust, and is named after the blue-black appearance of the resulting protective finish Water is a common Chemical substance that is essential for the survival of all known forms of Life. Oxygen (from the Greek roots ὀξύς (oxys (acid literally "sharp" from the taste of acids and -γενής (-genēs (producer literally begetteris the

Iron is believed to be the critical missing nutrient in the ocean that limits the growth of plankton. Plankton consist of any drifting Organisms ( Animals Plants Archaea, or Bacteria) that inhabit the Pelagic zone of Experimental iron fertilization of areas of the ocean using iron(II) sulfate has proven successful in increasing plankton growth. Iron fertilization is the intentional introduction of Iron, an essential Nutrient, to the upper Ocean to stimulate the marine Food chain Iron(II sulfate or ferrous sulfate is the Chemical compound with the formula ( Fe[[Sulfur S]] O 4 ^[5][6][7] Larger scaled efforts are being attempted with the hope that iron seeding and ocean plankton growth can remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, thereby counteracting the greenhouse effect that is generally agreed by climatologists to cause global warming. Carbon dioxide ( Chemical formula:) is a Chemical compound composed of two Oxygen Atoms covalently bonded to a single The Greenhouse effect refers to the change in the Thermal equilibrium temperature of a planet or moon by the presence of an Atmosphere containing gas that absorbs Global warming is the increase in the average measured temperature of the ^[8] The main problem with iron fertilisation is the low photic depth of the Southern Ocean when compared with the mixing depth, resulting in phytoplankton death and reducing the NET amount of carbon dioxide taken up. The NET deposition of carbon into the ocean bed is only around 2% of the carbon taken up by the phytoplankton as carbon dioxide, as shown by research by IASOS (Institute of Antarctic & Southern Ocean Studies), AAD (Australian Antarctic Division) and ACE CRC (Antarctic Climate & Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre).

Iron compounds

Iron chloride hexahydrate

• Iron oxides (FeO, Fe₃O₄, and Fe₂O₃) are ores used for iron production (see bloomery and blast furnace). Iron ores are rocks and Minerals from which Metallic Iron can be economically extracted A bloomery is a type of Furnace once widely used for Smelting Iron from its oxides. A blast furnace is a type of metallurgical Furnace used for Smelting to produce metals generally Iron. They are common components of terrestrial rocks.

• Iron(III) acetate (Fe(C₂H₃O₂)₃ is used in the dyeing of cloth. A dye can generally be described as a Colored substance that has an affinity to the substrate to which it is being applied A textile is a flexible material comprised of a network of natural or artificial Fibres often referred to as thread or Yarn.

• Iron(III) ammonium oxalate (Fe(NH₄)₃(C₂O₄)₄) is used in blueprints. A blueprint is a type of paper-based reproduction usually of a Technical drawing, documenting an Architecture or an Engineering design

• Iron(III) arsenate (FeAsO₄) is used in insecticide. An insecticide is a Pesticide used against Insects in all developmental forms

• Iron(III) chloride (FeCl₃) is used: in water purification and sewage treatment, in the dyeing of cloth, as a coloring agent in paints, as an additive in animal feed, and as an etching material for engravement, photography and printed circuits. Iron chloride redirects here For Iron(II chloride see Iron(II chloride. Water is a common Chemical substance that is essential for the survival of all known forms of Life. Paint is any Liquid, liquifiable or mastic composition which after application to a substrate in a thin layer is converted to an opaque Solid Photography (fә'tɒgrәfi or fә'tɑːgrәfi (from Greek φωτο and γραφία is the process and Art of recording pictures by means of capturing

• Iron(III) chromate (Fe₂(CrO₄)₃) is used as a yellow pigment for paints and ceramic. The word ceramic is derived from the Greek word κεραμικός ( keramikos)

• Iron(III) hydroxide (Fe(OH)₃) is used as a brown pigment for rubber and in water purification systems. A number of species are dubbed iron(III oxide-hydroxide. These chemicals are Oxide - Hydroxides of Iron, and may occur in Anhydrous (( or For the drug referred to as "pigment" see Black tar heroin.

• Iron(III) phosphate (FePO₄) is used in fertilizer and as an additive in human and animal food. Iron(III phosphate, also ferric orthophosphate, or ferric phosphate, FePO4 is a Phosphate of Iron. Fertilizers ( also spelt fertiliser are chemical compounds given to Plants to promote growth they are usually applied either through the soil for uptake by plant

• Iron(II) acetate (Fe(C₂H₃O₂)₂ is used in the dyeing of fabrics and leather, and as a wood preservative. Iron(II acetate is an off-white or light brown solid ionic compound of Iron. Leather is a material created through the Tanning of hides and Skins of Animals primarily Cattlehide The Tanning process Wood is hard fibrous lignified structural tissue produced as secondary Xylem in the stems of Woody plants notably trees but also shrubs

• Iron(II) gluconate (Fe(C₆H₁₁O₇)₂) is used as a dietary supplement in iron pills. Iron(II gluconate, or ferrous gluconate, is a black compound often used as an iron supplement Iron supplements are Supplements that can be prescribed by a doctor for a medical reason

• Iron(II) oxalate (FeC₂O₄) is used as yellow pigment for paints, plastics, glass and ceramic, and in photography. Plastic is the general common term for a wide range of synthetic or semisynthetic organic solid materials suitable for the manufacture of industrial products Glass in the common sense refers to a Hard, Brittle, transparent Solid, such as that used for Windows many Photography (fә'tɒgrәfi or fә'tɑːgrәfi (from Greek φωτο and γραφία is the process and Art of recording pictures by means of capturing

• Iron(II) sulfate (FeSO₄) is used in water purification and sewage treatment systems, as a catalyst in the production of ammonia, as an ingredient in fertilizer and herbicide, as an additive in animal feed, in wood preservative and as an additive to flour to increase iron levels. Iron(II sulfate or ferrous sulfate is the Chemical compound with the formula ( Fe[[Sulfur S]] O 4 Catalysis is the process in which the rate of a Chemical reaction is increased by means of a Chemical substance known as a catalyst Ammonia is a compound with the formula N[[hydrogen H3]] It is normally encountered as a Gas with a characteristic pungent Odor A herbicide is used to kill unwanted Plants Selective herbicides kill specific targets while leaving the desired Crop relatively unharmed Flour is a powder made of Cereal grains It is the key ingredient of Bread, which is a staple food in many countries and therefore the availability

• Iron-Fluorine complex (FeF₆)^3- is found in solutions containing both Fe(III) ions and fluoride ions. An ion is an Atom or Molecule which has lost or gained one or more Valence electrons giving it a positive or negative electrical charge Fluoride is the reduced form of Fluorine. Both organic and Inorganic compounds containing the element fluorine are considered fluorides An ion is an Atom or Molecule which has lost or gained one or more Valence electrons giving it a positive or negative electrical charge

History

Main article: History of ferrous metallurgy

The puddling process of smelting iron ore to make wrought iron from pig iron, with the right illustration displaying men working a blast furnace, from the Tiangong Kaiwu encyclopedia, published 1637 by Song Yingxing. The history of ferrous metallurgy began far back in Prehistory, most likely with the use of Iron from Meteorites The Smelting of iron in Puddling was an Industrial Revolution means of making iron and Steel. An ore is a volume of rock containing components or Minerals in a mode of occurrence that renders it valuable for mining QtubIronPillarJPG|thumb|right| Iron pillar at Delhi India containing 98% wrought iron]] Wrought iron is commercially pure Iron. Pig iron is the intermediate product of Smelting Iron ore with coke, usually with Limestone as a flux A blast furnace is a type of metallurgical Furnace used for Smelting to produce metals generally Iron. Song Yingxing ( Traditional Chinese:宋應星 Simplified Chinese:宋应星 Wade Giles: Sung Ying-Hsing; 1587-1666 AD was a Chinese

The first iron used by mankind during prehistory came from meteors. Stone Age Paleolithic See also Paleolithic, Recent African Origin, Early Homo sapiens, Early human migrations "Paleolithic" The smelting of iron in bloomeries probably began in Anatolia or the Caucasus in the second millennium BC or the later part of the preceding one. Chemical reduction, or smelting, is a form of Extractive metallurgy. A bloomery is a type of Furnace once widely used for Smelting Iron from its oxides. Anatolia (Anadolu Ανατολία Anatolía) or Asia minor, comprising most of modern Turkey, is the geographic region bounded by the Black The Caucasus ( also referred to as North Caucasus) is a geopolitical region located between Europe Asia & Middle East Cast iron was first produced in China about 550 BC, but not in Europe until the medieval period. Cast iron usually refers to grey cast iron, but identifies a large group of Ferrous Alloys which solidify with a Eutectic. China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National During the medieval period, means were found in Europe of producing wrought iron from cast iron (in this context known as pig iron) using finery forges. QtubIronPillarJPG|thumb|right| Iron pillar at Delhi India containing 98% wrought iron]] Wrought iron is commercially pure Iron. Cast iron usually refers to grey cast iron, but identifies a large group of Ferrous Alloys which solidify with a Eutectic. Pig iron is the intermediate product of Smelting Iron ore with coke, usually with Limestone as a flux Iron tapped from the Blast furnace is Pig iron, and contains significant amounts of Carbon and Silicon. For all these processes, charcoal was required as fuel. Charcoal' is the blackish residue consisting of impure Carbon obtained by removing water and other volatile constituents from Animal and Vegetation

Steel (with a smaller carbon content than pig iron but more than wrought iron) was first produced in antiquity. Steel is an Alloy consisting mostly of Iron, with a Carbon content between 0 Pig iron is the intermediate product of Smelting Iron ore with coke, usually with Limestone as a flux QtubIronPillarJPG|thumb|right| Iron pillar at Delhi India containing 98% wrought iron]] Wrought iron is commercially pure Iron. This article is about the archaeological period known as the Iron Age for the mythological Iron Age see Ages of Man. New methods of producing it by carburizing bars of iron in the cementation process were devised in the 17th century AD. Carburization (often referred to as carburizing) is a heat treatment process which iron or steel is heated to "below the melting point in the presence of a solid liquid The cementation process is an obsolete technique for making Steel by Carburization of Iron. In the Industrial Revolution, new methods of producing bar iron without charcoal were devised and these were later applied to produce steel. The Industrial Revolution was a period in the late 18th and early 19th centuries when major changes in agriculture manufacturing and transportation had a profound effect on the In the late 1850s, Henry Bessemer invented a new steelmaking process, involving blowing air through molten pig iron, to produce mild steel. Sir Henry Bessemer ( January 19, 1813 – March 15, 1898) English Engineer and Inventor. This and other 19th century and later processes have led to wrought iron no longer being produced. QtubIronPillarJPG|thumb|right| Iron pillar at Delhi India containing 98% wrought iron]] Wrought iron is commercially pure Iron.

Production of iron from iron ore

See also: Iron ore

The production of iron or steel is a process unless the desired final product is cast iron. Iron ores are rocks and Minerals from which Metallic Iron can be economically extracted Cast iron usually refers to grey cast iron, but identifies a large group of Ferrous Alloys which solidify with a Eutectic. The first stage is to produce pig iron in a blast furnace. Pig iron is the intermediate product of Smelting Iron ore with coke, usually with Limestone as a flux A blast furnace is a type of metallurgical Furnace used for Smelting to produce metals generally Iron. The second is to make wrought iron or steel from pig iron by a further process. QtubIronPillarJPG|thumb|right| Iron pillar at Delhi India containing 98% wrought iron]] Wrought iron is commercially pure Iron. Steel is an Alloy consisting mostly of Iron, with a Carbon content between 0

Blast furnace

Main article: Blast furnace

How Iron was extracted in the 19th century

Iron output in 2005

This heap of iron ore pellets will be used in steel production. A blast furnace is a type of metallurgical Furnace used for Smelting to produce metals generally Iron. Iron ores are rocks and Minerals from which Metallic Iron can be economically extracted Steel is an Alloy consisting mostly of Iron, with a Carbon content between 0

Ninety percent of all mining of metallic ores is for the extraction of iron. Mining is the extraction of valuable Minerals or other geological materials from the earth usually (but not always from an Ore body An ore is a volume of rock containing components or Minerals in a mode of occurrence that renders it valuable for mining Industrially, iron is produced starting from iron ores, principally haematite (nominally Fe₂O₃) and magnetite (Fe₃O₄) by a carbothermic reaction (reduction with carbon) in a blast furnace at temperatures of about 2000 °C. Iron ores are rocks and Minerals from which Metallic Iron can be economically extracted Hematite, also spelt hæmatite, is the Mineral form of Iron(III oxide (Fe2O3 one of several Iron oxides Magnetite is not to be confused with Magnesite or Maghemite. Magnetite is a ferrimagnetic Mineral with chemical Carbothermic reactions are thermic Chemical reactions which use Carbon as the reducing agent at high temperature Carbon (kɑɹbən is a Chemical element with the symbol C and its Atomic number is 6 A blast furnace is a type of metallurgical Furnace used for Smelting to produce metals generally Iron. In a blast furnace, iron ore, carbon in the form of coke, and a flux such as limestone (which is used to remove impurities in the ore which would otherwise clog the furnace with solid material) are fed into the top of the furnace, while a blast of heated air is forced into the furnace at the bottom. Coke is a solid Carbonaceous material derived from Destructive distillation of low-ash low-sulfur Bituminous coal. Limestone is a Sedimentary rock composed largely of the Mineral Calcite ( Calcium carbonate: CaCO3 Temperature and layers The temperature of the Earth's atmosphere varies with altitude the mathematical relationship between temperature and altitude varies among five

In the furnace, the coke reacts with oxygen in the air blast to produce carbon monoxide:

2 C + O₂ → 2 CO

The carbon monoxide reduces the iron ore (in the chemical equation below, hematite) to molten iron, becoming carbon dioxide in the process:

3 CO + 2Fe₂O₃ → 4 Fe + 3 CO₂

The flux is present to melt impurities in the ore, principally silicon dioxide sand and other silicates. Coke is a solid Carbonaceous material derived from Destructive distillation of low-ash low-sulfur Bituminous coal. Oxygen (from the Greek roots ὀξύς (oxys (acid literally "sharp" from the taste of acids and -γενής (-genēs (producer literally begetteris the Carbon monoxide, with the chemical formula CO is a colorless odorless tasteless yet highly toxic Gas. Carbon (kɑɹbən is a Chemical element with the symbol C and its Atomic number is 6 Oxygen (from the Greek roots ὀξύς (oxys (acid literally "sharp" from the taste of acids and -γενής (-genēs (producer literally begetteris the Carbon monoxide, with the chemical formula CO is a colorless odorless tasteless yet highly toxic Gas. A chemical equation is a symbolic representation of a Chemical reaction. Carbon dioxide ( Chemical formula:) is a Chemical compound composed of two Oxygen Atoms covalently bonded to a single Carbon monoxide, with the chemical formula CO is a colorless odorless tasteless yet highly toxic Gas. Hematite, also spelt hæmatite, is the Mineral form of Iron(III oxide (Fe2O3 one of several Iron oxides Carbon dioxide ( Chemical formula:) is a Chemical compound composed of two Oxygen Atoms covalently bonded to a single The Chemical compound silicon dioxide, also known as silica or silox (from the Latin " Silex " is an Oxide Sand is a naturally occurring Granular material composed of finely divided rock and Mineral particles For the Artificial intelligence Androids of the 1990s Science fiction series Space Above and Beyond, see Silicate (AI Common fluxes include limestone (principally calcium carbonate) and dolomite (calcium-magnesium carbonate). Calcium carbonate is a Chemical compound with the Chemical formula Ca[[Carbon C]] O 3 Other fluxes may be used depending on the impurities that need to be removed from the ore. In the heat of the furnace the limestone flux decomposes to calcium oxide (quicklime):

CaCO₃ → CaO + CO₂

Then calcium oxide combines with silicon dioxide to form a slag. Calcium oxide ( CaO) commonly known as burnt lime, lime or quicklime, is a widely used Chemical compound. Calcium carbonate is a Chemical compound with the Chemical formula Ca[[Carbon C]] O 3 Calcium oxide ( CaO) commonly known as burnt lime, lime or quicklime, is a widely used Chemical compound. Carbon dioxide ( Chemical formula:) is a Chemical compound composed of two Oxygen Atoms covalently bonded to a single

CaO + SiO₂ → CaSiO₃

The slag melts in the heat of the furnace. Calcium oxide ( CaO) commonly known as burnt lime, lime or quicklime, is a widely used Chemical compound. The Chemical compound silicon dioxide, also known as silica or silox (from the Latin " Silex " is an Oxide In the bottom of the furnace, the molten slag floats on top of the more dense molten iron, and apertures in the side of the furnace are opened to run off the iron and the slag separately. The iron once cooled, is called pig iron, while the slag can be used as a material in road construction or to improve mineral-poor soils for agriculture. Pig iron is the intermediate product of Smelting Iron ore with coke, usually with Limestone as a flux A road is an identifiable route, way or path between two or more places. Agriculture refers to the production of goods through the growing of plants and fungi and the raising of domesticated Animals The study of agriculture

In 2005, approximately 1,544 Mt (million metric tons) of iron ore was produced worldwide. This article is about the tonne or metric ton For other tons see Ton. China was the top producer of iron ore with at least one-fourth world share followed by Brazil, Australia and India, reports the British Geological Survey. The British Geological Survey (BGS is a partly publicly-funded body which aims to advance geoscientific knowledge of the United Kingdom landmass and its Continental

Further processes

Pig iron is not pure iron, but has 4-5% carbon dissolved in it. This is subsequently reduced to steel or commercially pure iron, known as wrought iron, using other furnaces or converters. Steel is an Alloy consisting mostly of Iron, with a Carbon content between 0 QtubIronPillarJPG|thumb|right| Iron pillar at Delhi India containing 98% wrought iron]] Wrought iron is commercially pure Iron.

Isotopes

Main article: Isotopes of iron

Naturally occurring iron consists of four isotopes: 5. Naturally occurring Iron ( Fe) consists of four Isotopes 5845% of radioactive 54Fe (half-life >3 Isotopes (Greek isos = "equal" tópos = "site place" are any of the different types of atoms ( Nuclides 845% of radioactive ⁵⁴Fe (half-life: >3. 1×10²² years), 91. 754% of stable ⁵⁶Fe, 2. 119% of stable ⁵⁷Fe and 0. 282% of stable ⁵⁸Fe. ⁶⁰Fe is an extinct radionuclide of long half-life (1. An extinct Radionuclide is one which was thought to have been formed by a primordial process such as stellar Nucleogenesis in the Supernova (s which contributed Half-Life (computer-game page here It's already listed in the disambiguation page 5 million years).

Much of the past work on measuring the isotopic composition of Fe has centered on determining ⁶⁰Fe variations due to processes accompanying nucleosynthesis (i. Nucleosynthesis is the process of creating new atomic nuclei from preexisting Nucleons (protons and neutrons e. , meteorite studies) and ore formation. A meteorite is a natural object originating in Outer space that survives an impact with the Earth 's surface In the last decade however, advances in mass spectrometry technology have allowed the detection and quantification of minute, naturally occurring variations in the ratios of the stable isotopes of iron. Mass spectrometry is an analytical technique that identifies the chemical composition of a compound or sample based on the Mass-to-charge ratio of charged particles Stable isotopes are chemical isotopes that are not Radioactive (to current knowledge Much of this work has been driven by the Earth and planetary science communities, although applications to biological and industrial systems are beginning to emerge. Earth science (also known as geoscience, the geosciences or the Earth Sciences) is an all-embracing term for the Sciences related to the planet Planetary science, also known as planetology and closely related to planetary astronomy, is the Science of Planets or Planetary systems ^[9]

The isotope ⁵⁶Fe is of particular interest to nuclear scientists. A common misconception is that this isotope represents the most stable nucleus possible, and that it thus would be impossible to perform fission or fusion on ⁵⁶Fe and still liberate energy. This is not true, as both ⁶²Ni and ⁵⁸Fe are more stable, being the most stable nuclei. However, since ⁵⁶Fe is much more easily produced from lighter nuclei in nuclear reactions, it is the endpoint of fusion chains inside extremely massive stars and is therefore common in the universe, relative to other metals. In Astronomy and Physical cosmology, the metallicity of an object is the proportion of its matter made up of Chemical elements other than Hydrogen In Astronomy and Physical cosmology, the metallicity of an object is the proportion of its matter made up of Chemical elements other than Hydrogen

In phases of the meteorites Semarkona and Chervony Kut a correlation between the concentration of ⁶⁰Ni, the daughter product of ⁶⁰Fe, and the abundance of the stable iron isotopes could be found which is evidence for the existence of ⁶⁰Fe at the time of formation of the solar system. Nickel (ˈnɪkəl is a metallic Chemical element with the symbol Ni and Atomic number 28 In Nuclear physics, a decay product, also known as a daughter product, daughter isotope or daughter nuclide, is a Nuclide Possibly the energy released by the decay of ⁶⁰Fe contributed, together with the energy released by decay of the radionuclide ²⁶Al, to the remelting and differentiation of asteroids after their formation 4. WikipediaNaming In Planetary science, planetary differentiation is the process of separating out different constituents of a planetary body as a consequence of their physical or chemical Asteroids, sometimes called Minor planets or planetoids', are bodies—primarily of the inner Solar System —that are smaller than planets but 6 billion years ago. The abundance of ⁶⁰Ni present in extraterrestrial material may also provide further insight into the origin of the solar system and its early history. Nickel (ˈnɪkəl is a metallic Chemical element with the symbol Ni and Atomic number 28 The Solar System consists of the Sun and those celestial objects bound to it by Gravity. Of the stable isotopes, only ⁵⁷Fe has a nuclear spin (−1/2). In Quantum mechanics, spin is a fundamental property of atomic nuclei, Hadrons and Elementary particles For particles with non-zero spin

Iron in organic synthesis

The use of iron metal filings in organic synthesis is mainly for the reduction of nitro compounds. The Chemical reactions described as reduction of nitro compounds can be facilitated by many different reagents and reaction conditions Nitro compounds are Organic compounds that contain one or more nitro Functional groups (-2 ^[10] Additionally, iron has been used for desulfurizations,^[11] reduction of aldehydes,^[12] and the deoxygenation of amine oxides. Hydrodesulfurization (HDS is a Catalytic chemical process widely used to remove Sulfur (S from Natural gas and from refined petroleum products Redox (shorthand for reduction-oxidation reaction describes all Chemical reactions in which atoms have their Oxidation number ( Oxidation state An aldehyde is an organic compound containing a terminal Carbonyl group. Deoxygenation is a Chemical reaction involving the removal of molecular oxygen (O2 from a reaction mixture or solvent or the removal of Oxygen atoms from ^[13]

Iron in biology

Structure of Heme b

Main article: Human iron metabolism

Iron is essential to nearly all known organisms. A heme ( American English) or haem ( British English) is a Prosthetic group that consists of an Iron atom contained in the center of Human iron metabolism is the set of chemical reactions maintaining Human homeostasis of Iron. In cells, iron is generally stored in the centre of metalloproteins, because "free" iron -- which binds non-specifically to many cellular components -- can catalyse production of toxic free radicals. The cell is the structural and functional unit of all known living Organisms It is the smallest unit of an organism that is classified as living and is often called In Biochemistry, a metalloprotein is a generic term for a Protein that contains a Metal cofactor. In Chemistry, radicals (often referred to as free radicals) are atoms molecules or ions with Unpaired electrons on an otherwise Open shell Iron deficiency can lead to iron deficiency anemia. For a discussion of iron deficiency more broadly see the Wikipedia article iron deficiency.

In animals, plants, and fungi, iron is often incorporated into the heme complex. A heme ( American English) or haem ( British English) is a Prosthetic group that consists of an Iron atom contained in the center of Heme is an essential component of cytochrome proteins, which mediate redox reactions, and of oxygen carrier proteins such as hemoglobin, myoglobin, and leghemoglobin. Cytochromes are in general membrane-bound Hemoproteins that contain Heme groups and carry out Electron transport. Redox (shorthand for reduction-oxidation reaction describes all Chemical reactions in which atoms have their Oxidation number ( Oxidation state Hemoglobin ( also spelled haemoglobin and abbreviated Hb or Hgb) is the Iron -containing Oxygen -transport Metalloprotein Myoglobin is a single-chain globular Protein of 153 Amino acids containing a Heme ( Iron -containing Porphyrin) Prosthetic The oxygen carrier leghemoglobin (also legoglobin) is a Hemoprotein found in the nitrogen-fixing root nodules of leguminous plants Inorganic iron also contributes to redox reactions in the iron-sulfur clusters of many enzymes, such as nitrogenase (involved in the synthesis of ammonia from nitrogen and hydrogen) and hydrogenase. For biological Fe-S clusters see Iron-sulfur proteins Iron-sulfur clusters are ensembles of Iron and Sulfide centres Enzymes are Biomolecules that catalyze ( ie increase the rates of Chemical reactions Almost all enzymes are Proteins Nitrogenase ( is the Enzyme used by some organisms to fix atmospheric Nitrogen gas (N2 Ammonia is a compound with the formula N[[hydrogen H3]] It is normally encountered as a Gas with a characteristic pungent Odor Nitrogen (ˈnaɪtɹəʤɪn is a Chemical element that has the symbol N and Atomic number 7 and Atomic weight 14 Hydrogen (ˈhaɪdrədʒən is the Chemical element with Atomic number 1 A hydrogenase is an Enzyme that catalyses the reversible oxidation of molecular Hydrogen (H2 Non-heme iron proteins include the enzymes methane monooxygenase (oxidizes methane to methanol), ribonucleotide reductase (reduces ribose to deoxyribose; DNA biosynthesis), hemerythrins (oxygen transport and fixation in marine invertebrates) and purple acid phosphatase (hydrolysis of phosphate esters). Enzymes are Biomolecules that catalyze ( ie increase the rates of Chemical reactions Almost all enzymes are Proteins Methane monooxygenase, or MMO is an enzyme capable of oxidizing the C-H bond in Methane as well as other Alkanes Methane monooxygenase belongs to the class Methane is a Chemical compound with the molecular formula. It is the simplest Alkane, and the principal component of Natural gas. Methanol, also known as methyl alcohol, carbinol, wood alcohol, wood naphtha or wood spirits, is a Chemical compound Ribonucleotide reductase (RNR is an Enzyme that controls the cellular concentration of Deoxyribonucleotides Biosynthesis begins with the building up of Ribose (ɹˈaɪbəʊs ɹˈaɪbəɹʊs primarily seen as D-ribose, is an Aldopentose — a Monosaccharide containing five Carbon Deoxyribose, also known as D-Deoxyribose and 2-deoxyribose, is an Aldopentose &mdash a Monosaccharide containing five Carbon DNA replication is the process of copying a double-stranded DNA molecule to form two double-stranded molecules Hemerythrin (also spelled haemerythrin; from Greek words αίμα = blood and ερυθρός = red is an Oligomeric Protein responsible for Oxygen Oxygen (from the Greek roots ὀξύς (oxys (acid literally "sharp" from the taste of acids and -γενής (-genēs (producer literally begetteris the Marine biology is the scientific study of living Organisms in the Ocean or other marine or Brackish bodies of water Hydrolysis is a Chemical reaction during which one or more water molecules are split into hydrogen and hydroxide ions which may go on to participate in further reactions A phosphate, an Inorganic chemical, is a salt of Phosphoric acid. Esters are a class of Chemical compounds and Functional groups Esters consist of an inorganic or organic Acid in which at least

Iron distribution is heavily regulated in mammals, partly because iron has a high potential for biological toxicity. Mammals ( class Mammalia) are a class of Vertebrate Animals characterized by the presence of Sweat glands, including sweat glands Iron distribution is also regulated because many bacteria require iron, so restricting its availability to bacteria (generally by sequestering it inside cells) can help to prevent or limit infections. This is probably the reason for the relatively low amounts of iron in mammalian milk. A major component of this regulation is the protein transferrin, which binds iron absorbed from the duodenum and carries it in the blood to cells. Transferrin is a Blood plasma Protein for Iron Ion delivery Transferrin is a Glycoprotein, which binds iron very tightly but reversibly In Anatomy of the Digestive system, the duodenum is a hollow jointed tube about 25-30 cm (10-12 in long connecting the Stomach to the Jejunum This is an article about the rock music band "Circulatory System" ^[14]

Nutrition and dietary sources

Good sources of dietary iron include red meat, fish, poultry, lentils, beans, leaf vegetables, tofu, chickpeas, black-eyed peas, potatoes with skin, bread made from completely whole-grain flour, molasses, teff and farina. For mammal meat see Red meat. For the band see Red Meat (band. Fish are aquatic Vertebrate animals that are typically ectothermic (previously Cold-blooded) covered with scales, and equipped with two Poultry is the category of Domesticated Birds which some humans keep for the purpose of collecting their eggs, or kill for their Meat and/or The lentil or daal or pulse ( Lens culinaris) is a bushy Annual plant of the legume family grown for its lens-shaped Seeds Bean is a common name for large plant Seeds of several genera of the family Fabaceae (formerly Leguminosae used for human food or animal Leaf vegetables, also called potherbs, greens, or leafy greens, are plant leaves eaten as a Vegetable, sometimes accompanied Tofu, also (the Japanese Romaji spelling doufu (the Chinese Pinyin spelling often used in Chinese recipes or bean curd (the literal The chickpea ( Cicer arietinum) (also garbanzo bean, Indian pea, ceci bean, bengal gram, chana, kadale kaalu, The black-eyed pea, also called black-eyed bean, blackeye, 眉豆 (Cant Molasses or Treacle is a thick Syrup by-product from the processing of the Sugarcane or Sugar beet into Sugar. Teff or taf ( Eragrostis tef, Amharic ጤፍ ṭēff, Tigrinya ጣፍ ṭaff) is an annual grass Farina is a cereal food frequently described as bland-tasting usually served warm made from cereal grains Iron in meat is more easily absorbed than iron in vegetables,^[15] but heme/hemoglobin from red meat increases the likelihood of colorectal cancer. A heme ( American English) or haem ( British English) is a Prosthetic group that consists of an Iron atom contained in the center of Hemoglobin ( also spelled haemoglobin and abbreviated Hb or Hgb) is the Iron -containing Oxygen -transport Metalloprotein For mammal meat see Red meat. For the band see Red Meat (band. Colorectal cancer, also called colon cancer or large bowel cancer, includes Cancerous growths in the colon, Rectum and ^[16][17]

Iron provided by dietary supplements is often found as iron (II) fumarate, although iron sulfate is cheaper and is absorbed equally well. Iron(II fumarate, also known as ferrous fumarate is the iron (II salt of Fumaric acid, occurring as a Reddish orange powder used to supplement Elemental iron, despite being absorbed to a much smaller extent (stomach acid is sufficient to convert some of it to ferrous iron), is often added to foods such as breakfast cereals or "enriched" wheat flour (where it is listed as "reduced iron" in the list of ingredients). Iron is most available to the body when chelated to amino acids - iron in this form is ten to fifteen times more bioavailable^[18] than any other, and is also available for use as a common iron supplement. Chelation is the binding or complexation of a bi- or multidentate Ligand. Iron supplements are Supplements that can be prescribed by a doctor for a medical reason Often the amino acid chosen for this purpose is the cheapest and most common amino acid, glycine, leading to "iron glycinate" supplements. ^[19] The RDA for iron varies considerably based on age, gender, and source of dietary iron (heme-based iron has higher bioavailability). The Dietary Reference Intake (or DRI is a system of Nutrition recommendations from the Institute of Medicine (IOM of the US National Academy of Sciences A heme ( American English) or haem ( British English) is a Prosthetic group that consists of an Iron atom contained in the center of In Pharmacology, bioavailability is used to describe the fraction of an administered Dose of unchanged drug that reaches the Systemic circulation, one of ^[20] Infants will require iron supplements if they are not breast-fed. Blood donors are at special risk of low iron levels and are often advised to supplement their iron intake.

Regulation of iron uptake

Excessive iron can be toxic, because free ferrous iron reacts with peroxides to produce free radicals, which are highly reactive and can damage DNA, proteins, lipids, and other cellular components. A peroxide is a compound containing an Oxygen -oxygen single bond. In Chemistry, radicals (often referred to as free radicals) are atoms molecules or ions with Unpaired electrons on an otherwise Open shell Deoxyribonucleic acid ( DNA) is a Nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known Proteins are large Organic compounds made of Amino acids arranged in a linear chain and joined together by Peptide bonds between the Carboxyl Lipids are broadly defined as any fat- Soluble ( lipophilic) naturally-occurring Molecule, such as fats oils waxes cholesterol sterols fat-soluble Thus, iron toxicity occurs when there is free iron in the cell, which generally occurs when iron levels exceed the capacity of transferrin to bind the iron. Transferrin is a Blood plasma Protein for Iron Ion delivery Transferrin is a Glycoprotein, which binds iron very tightly but reversibly

Iron uptake is tightly regulated by the human body, which has no regulated physiological means of excreting iron. Human iron metabolism is the set of chemical reactions maintaining Human homeostasis of Iron. Only small amounts of iron are lost daily due to mucosal and skin epithelial cell sloughing, so control of iron levels is mostly by regulating uptake. ^[21] However, large amounts of ingested iron can cause excessive levels of iron in the blood because high iron levels can damage the cells of the gastrointestinal tract, preventing them from regulating iron absorption. High blood concentrations of iron damage cells in the heart, liver and elsewhere, which can cause serious problems, including long-term organ damage and even death. The heart is a muscular organ in all Vertebrates responsible for pumping Blood through the Blood vessels by repeated rhythmic The liver is a vital organ in the human body and is present in Vertebrates and some other animals

Humans experience iron toxicity above 20 milligrams of iron for every kilogram of mass, and 60 milligrams per kilogram is a lethal dose. A lethal dose (LD is an indication of the Lethality of a given substance or type of Radiation. ^[22] Over-consumption of iron, often the result of children eating large quantities of ferrous sulfate tablets intended for adult consumption, is one of the most common toxicological causes of death in children under six. Iron(II sulfate or ferrous sulfate is the Chemical compound with the formula ( Fe[[Sulfur S]] O 4 ^[22] The DRI lists the Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) for adults as 45 mg/day. The Dietary Reference Intake (or DRI is a system of Nutrition recommendations from the Institute of Medicine (IOM of the US National Academy of Sciences For other uses of the words gram or gramme see Gram (disambiguation. For children under fourteen years old the UL is 40 mg/day.

Regulation of iron uptake is impaired in some people as a result of a genetic defect that maps to the HLA-H gene region on chromosome 6. In these people, excessive iron intake can result in iron overload disorders, such as hemochromatosis. In Medicine, iron overload disorders are Diseases caused by the accumulation of Iron in the body Haemochromatosis, also spelled hemochromatosis (see spelling differences) also called siderophilia Many people have a genetic susceptibility to iron overload without realizing it or being aware of a family history of the problem. For this reason, it is advised that people not take iron supplements unless they suffer from iron deficiency and have consulted a doctor. For a more specific and detailed discussion of Anemia caused by iron deficiency see the Wikipedia article Iron deficiency anemia. Hemochromatosis is estimated to cause disease in between 0. 3 and 0. 8% of Caucasians. ^[23]

The medical management of iron toxicity is complex, and can include use of a specific chelating agent called deferoxamine to bind and expel excess iron from the body. Chelation is the binding or complexation of a bi- or multidentate Ligand. Deferoxamine (also known as desferrioxamine, desferoxamine, DFO, DFOA or desferal) is a Chelating agent used to remove

See also

• El Mutún in Bolivia, where 20% of the world's accessible iron and magnesium is located. El Cerro Mutún ( Spanish for "the Mountain Mutún" is the world's largest Iron ore deposit The Republic of Bolivia (República de Bolivia) named after Simón Bolívar, is a Landlocked country in central South America. Magnesium (mægˈniːziəm is a Chemical element with the symbol Mg, Atomic number 12 Atomic weight 24
• Iron (metaphor)
• Iron Age
• Iron fertilization - Fertilization of oceans to stimulate phytoplankton growth. Iron, when used Metaphorically, refers to certain traits of the Metal Iron. This article is about the archaeological period known as the Iron Age for the mythological Iron Age see Ages of Man. Iron fertilization is the intentional introduction of Iron, an essential Nutrient, to the upper Ocean to stimulate the marine Food chain Phytoplankton are the Autotrophic component of the Plankton community
• Pelletizing - Process of creation of iron ore pellets. Pelletizing is the process of compressed or molding of product into the shape of a Pellet.
• Al-Hadid (Iron) in the Qur'an. Surat Al-Ḥadīd (سورة الحديد) (Iron is the 57th sura of the Qur'an, with 29 Ayat. The Qur’an ( القرآن, literally "the recitation" also sometimes transliterated as Qur’ān, Koran, Alcoran
• Specht Building - A historic landmark in Omaha, Nebraska utilizing an iron facade. The Christian Specht Building is located at 1110 Douglas Street in downtown Omaha, Nebraska
• Iron in mythology

Bibliography

• Doulias PT, Christoforidis S, Brunk UT, Galaris D. Iron in mythology and folklore has a long and varied tradition throughout the world Endosomal and lysosomal effects of desferrioxamine: protection of HeLa cells from hydrogen peroxide-induced DNA damage and induction of cell-cycle arrest. Free Radic Biol Med. 2003;35:719-28.
• H. R. Schubert, History of the British Iron and Steel Industry . . . to 1775 AD (Routledge, London, 1957)
• R. F. Tylecote, History of Metallurgy (Institute of Materials, London 1992).
• R. F. Tylecote, 'Iron in the Industrial Revolution' in J. Day and R. F. Tylecote, The Industrial Revolution in Metals (Institute of Materials 1991), 200-60.
• Los Alamos National Laboratory — Iron
• Crystal structure of iron

References

External links

• WebElements.com – Iron
• It's Elemental – Iron
• The Most Tightly Bound Nuclei