Iron Metal Properties Uses and Other Details
What is Iron
Iron is a metal and chemically it is an element. Iron is a shiny metal of
silver-grey colour. Pure iron is somewhat malleable. The symbol of iron is
Fe and the atomic number is 26. The atomic weight of iron is
55.845 amu and its atom contains 26 electrons, 26 protons and 30
neutrons. Iron is found in solid state at normal temperature. The melting
point of iron is 1538 °C (2800 °F) and its boiling point is
2861 °C (5182 °F). The density of iron is 7.87 grams per
cubic centimeter. Iron is located in Group 8, Period 4 and Block D in the
Periodic Table.
Iron has been used since ancient time, so it is unknown who discovered
it.
Properties of iron metal
- Iron is a shiny metal of silver-grey colour.
- Iron is chemically very active.
- Iron gets rust very easily when it comes in contact with moisture.
- Iron is a very good conductor of heat and electricity.
- Iron reacts with dilute acids to produce hydrogen.
- When exposed to high temperature water vapor (more than 575 °C), iron reacts with oxygen in the water vapor to form ferroferric oxide (Fe3O4) and liberate hydrogen.
- Pure iron is a malleable metal, so it can be beaten and bent into any shape and can also be given the form of a thin sheet.
- Pure iron is a very ductile metal, so it can be drawn into thin wire.
- Iron can be made extremely hard by adding some amount of carbon (from .5% to 1.5%).
- By mixing other metals in iron, its properties can be changed very easily.
- Iron can be attracted very easily by a magnet.
- Iron is an essential and harmless element for all forms of life, some amount of iron is found in all living beings and most foods. About 4 grams of iron is found in an adult human being.
Uses of iron metal
Iron is the most used metal among all metals, the use of iron is so
widespread that most of the things found around us are made of iron. Some
of the uses of iron are as follows:-
- Iron is most commonly used to make alloys, many types of steel are made by mixing different metals in iron, in which carbon steel, stainless steel, alloy steel, tool steel etc. are prominent.
- Most of the parts of all types of vehicles are made of iron.
- Iron bars, girders, etc. are widely used in building construction and multi-storey buildings.
- Most of the things used in daily life are made of iron or parts made of iron.
- Furniture and window-doors are also made from iron.
- All types of industrial machines that run on electricity and fuel are made from iron and iron parts.
- Iron is used to make magnets.
- Iron oxide and aluminum powder are mixed and burnt, this generates a high temperature of 2500 degree Celsius. This is called the thermite reaction, which is used to perform a special type of spot welding.
- Iron acts as a nutrient in the body. Anemia is caused due to deficiency of iron in the body, due to which there is a lack of blood in the body.
- A typical adult male requires 7 milligrams of iron per day, while a typical adult female requires 11 milligrams of iron per day.
Interesting facts about iron metal
- Iron is the ninth most abundant element in the universe.
- Iron is the fourth most abundant element on earth.
- Iron is the second most abundant metal on earth after aluminum.
- Pure iron is relatively soft.
- The color of blood is red because of iron.
- Iron in trace amounts acts as a nutrient in our body.
- Iron is mostly used in making steel.
- Most of the iron is produced in Australia.
Detailed Information on Some other Metals
- Gold Properties Uses and other Details
- Silver Properties Uses and Other Details
- Mercury Properties Uses and other Details
- Platinum Properties Uses and other details
- Titanium Properties Uses and other Details
- Aluminium Properties Uses and other Details
- Copper Properties Uses and Other Details
- Nickel Metal Properties Uses and other Details
- Plutonium | Properties | Uses | Other Details
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- Lithium | Properties | Uses | Other Details
- Thorium | Properties | Uses | Facts
- Sodium Metal | Properties | Uses | Facts
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