
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.
H | He | ||||||||||||||||
Li | Be | B | C | N | O | F | Ne | ||||||||||
Na | Mg | Al | Si | P | S | Cl | Ar | ||||||||||
K | Ca | Sc | Ti | V | Cr | Mn | Fe | Co | Ni | Cu | Zn | Ga | Ge | As | Se | Br | Kr |
Rb | Sr | Y | Zr | Nb | Mo | Tc | Ru | Rh | Pd | Ag | Cd | In | Sn | Sb | Te | I | Xe |
Cs | Ba | La* | Hf | Ta | W | Re | Os | Ir | Pt | Au | Hg | Tl | Pb | Bi | Po | At | Rn |
Fr | Ra | Ac** | Rf | Db | Sg | Bh | Hs | Mt | Ds | Rg | Cn | Nh | Fl | Mc | Lv | Ts | Og |
*Ce | Pr | Nd | Pm | Sm | Eu | Gd | Tb | Dy | Ho | Er | Tm | Yb | Lu | ||||
**Th | Pa | U | Np | Pu | Am | Cm | Bk | Cf | Es | Fm | Md | No | Lr |
Facts about iron
Here are a few interesting facts about iron element.
- Iron is the 4th most abundant element (by weight) present in the earth’s crust.
- Iron is a very ancient element (discovered around 5000 years ago) and it has been used for a very long time.
- There is a large amount of iron oxides on the planet Mars, which makes it look reddish in color.
- Most of the iron is present in the outer core as well as inner core of the earth’s crust.
- Sun, stars as well as meteors also contain iron element.
- 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.
- Most of the iron is used in manufacturing of steels.
- China, Australia and Brazil are the largest producers of iron in the world.
- 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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