Iron (Fe) – Periodic Table [Element Information & More]

Iron element (Fe) is in group 8 and period 4 of a periodic table. Iron is in the d-block and it is classified as a transition element on the periodic table.

There is a lot more information related to iron which is mentioned in the Information Table given below.

So let’s dive right into it!

Table of contents

• Iron element (Information Table)
• Iron element in Periodic table
• Facts about Iron
• Properties of Iron
• Uses of Iron

Iron Element (Information Table)

The important data related to iron element is given in the table below.

Appearance of iron	Shiny metallic gray color
Atomic number of iron	26
Symbol of iron	Fe
Atomic mass of iron	55.845 u
Protons, Neutrons & Electrons in iron	Protons: 26, Neutrons: 30, Electrons: 26
State of iron (at STP)	Solid
Group number of iron in periodic table	8
Period number of iron in periodic table	4
Block of iron in periodic table	d-block
Category of iron	Transition metals
Bohr model or Electrons per shell or Electrons arrangement in iron	2, 8, 14, 2
Electron configuration of iron	[Ar] 3d6 4s2
Orbital diagram of iron
Electronegativity of iron (on pauling scale)	1.83
Atomic radius of iron (van der Waals radius)	194 picometers
Density of iron	7.875 g/cm3
1st ionization energy of iron	7.902 eV
Main isotope of iron	56Fe
Melting point of iron	1811 K or 1538 °C or 2800 °F
Boiling point of iron	3134 K or 2862 °C or 5182 °F
Crystal structure of iron	Body Centered Cubic (BCC)
Discovery of iron	Before 5000 BC

Also see: Interactive Periodic Table (It has rotating bohr models as well as many other details of all the 118 elements in a single periodic table).

Iron element in Periodic table

The Iron element (Fe) has the atomic number 26 and is located in group 8 and period 4. Iron is a metal and it is classified as a transition element.

Facts about iron

Here are a few interesting facts about iron element.

1. Iron is the 4^th most abundant element (by weight) present in the earth’s crust.
2. Iron is a very ancient element (discovered around 5000 years ago) and it has been used for a very long time.
3. There is a large amount of iron oxides on the planet Mars, which makes it look reddish in color.
4. Most of the iron is present in the outer core as well as inner core of the earth’s crust.
5. Sun, stars as well as meteors also contain iron element.
6. Iron is very essential for living organisms. Plants use iron in the production of chlorophyll, while in animals the iron is a component of hemoglobin.
7. Most of the iron is used in manufacturing of steels.
8. China, Australia and Brazil are the largest producers of iron in the world.
9. Iron is the most used metal on the earth and it is abundant and cheap.

Properties of iron

Here is a list of some physical properties and chemical properties of iron.

Physical properties of iron

• Iron is a metal and it has a lustrous metallic appearance.
• The iron element has many isotopes and the most abundant isotope is ⁵⁶Fe. Its abundance is around 92%.
• The melting point and boiling point of iron is 1811 K and 3134 K respectively.
• The crystal structure iron is BCC.
• Iron is the naturally occurring magnetic element on the earth.

Chemical properties of iron

• Pure iron is reactive and it is not found in its free state from the earth’s crust. It is always found as a compound with other elements.
• Iron is classified as a transition metal on the periodic table as it has incompletely filled d-orbitals. Its electronic configuration is [Ar] 3d⁶ 4s².
• Iron reacts with moisture and oxygen and forms a rust.
• Iron also gets corroded due to higher temperatures.
• The iron burns with a golden flame in a flame test.

Uses of iron

Here are some uses of the iron element.

• Steels are made from iron, and these steels are used in construction work and other manufacturing works.
• Stainless steel also contains iron in it. The stainless steel has anticorrosive properties and so it is used in kitchen utensils.
• Iron is also used in making magnets.
• Steel made from iron is used in manufacturing of cars, ships, etc.
• Iron is also used to produce colored sparks in some fireworks.

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