Iron Definition and 517 Threads

Iron () is a chemical element with symbol Fe (from Latin: ferrum) and atomic number 26. It is a metal that belongs to the first transition series and group 8 of the periodic table. It is, by mass, the most common element on Earth, right in front of oxygen (32.1% and 30.1%, respectively), forming much of Earth's outer and inner core. It is the fourth most common element in the Earth's crust.
In its metallic state, iron is rare in the Earth's crust, limited mainly to deposition by meteorites. Iron ores, by contrast, are among the most abundant in the Earth's crust, although extracting usable metal from them requires kilns or furnaces capable of reaching 1,500 °C (2,730 °F) or higher, about 500 °C (900 °F) higher than that required to smelt copper. Humans started to master that process in Eurasia by about 2000 BCE, and the use of iron tools and weapons began to displace copper alloys, in some regions, only around 1200 BCE. That event is considered the transition from the Bronze Age to the Iron Age. In the modern world, iron alloys, such as steel, stainless steel, cast iron and special steels are by far the most common industrial metals, because of their mechanical properties and low cost.
Pristine and smooth pure iron surfaces are mirror-like silvery-gray. However, iron reacts readily with oxygen and water to give brown to black hydrated iron oxides, commonly known as rust. Unlike the oxides of some other metals, that form passivating layers, rust occupies more volume than the metal and thus flakes off, exposing fresh surfaces for corrosion. Although iron readily reacts, high purity iron, called electrolytic iron, has better corrosion resistance.
The body of an adult human contains about 4 grams (0.005% body weight) of iron, mostly in hemoglobin and myoglobin. These two proteins play essential roles in vertebrate metabolism, respectively oxygen transport by blood and oxygen storage in muscles. To maintain the necessary levels, human iron metabolism requires a minimum of iron in the diet. Iron is also the metal at the active site of many important redox enzymes dealing with cellular respiration and oxidation and reduction in plants and animals.Chemically, the most common oxidation states of iron are iron(II) and iron(III). Iron shares many properties of other transition metals, including the other group 8 elements, ruthenium and osmium. Iron forms compounds in a wide range of oxidation states, −2 to +7. Iron also forms many coordination compounds; some of them, such as ferrocene, ferrioxalate, and Prussian blue, have substantial industrial, medical, or research applications.

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  1. R

    Is there a type of powder that can attach to iron objects like a magnet?

    Does any kind of magnetic powder exist? I mean not iron powder, that is attracted to a magnet but vice versa, a type of powder, that when i take an iron nail or screw and get it close to that powder, the powder will attach itself to that iron object and stay there, for as long as it is not taken...
  2. RealDoctorStu

    Superparamagents and superhot nanoparticle iron oxide

    I'm trying to understand superparamagentism. There is an experimental medical treatment that uses the superparamagnetism properties of nanoparticle-sized iron oxide particles. Injected into a cancer tumour, when the person is placed in a rapidly alternating magnetic field, the iron oxide...
  3. R

    What are the properties of ferromagnetic powder?

    Hello! I am trying to understand a few properties of the ferromagnetic powder.I could not get the answers to these questions on the web, since any kind of phrasing i used, popped up search results that related to iron powder or ferromagnetic powder, which are manipulated and shape-shift using...
  4. M

    Finding the mass of iron using the heat equations

    Homework Statement Calculate themass of iron at 100C that causes 20.0 kg of water to change temperature from 16C to 18C. C of iron is 460 J/kg C. The C for water is 4190. [/B]Homework Equations q1+q2=0 q=mct[/B]The Attempt at a Solution q1=-q2 mct=-mct 20(4190)(2)=-m(460)(100) 167600=46000m 3.5=m
  5. S

    Iron transforms from bcc to fcc.Ratio of nearest neighbour distance.

    Homework Statement At about 1180K iron transforms into fcc structure from bcc structure which is also the structural form at room temperature.Assuming no change in density find the ratio of nearest neighbour distance in fcc structure to that in bcc structure. Homework Equations For fcc...
  6. P

    Astronomy iron ratios in galaxy

    Homework Statement I understand that [Fe/H] ratios can be used to describe metallicity in a galaxy... but I'm having trouble understanding what [element/Fe] ratios should tell you. Anyone have an idea? Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution
  7. R

    Effects of Magnesium in Ductile Iron

    Hi Everyone, i was wondering about how graphite flakes formed in Grey cast iron, and how Nodular or Spheroidal graphite formed in Ductile iron, and also how magnesium enhanced the spheroidal formation of graphite in Ductile iron, please elaborate your explanation (you may answer it in terms of...
  8. J

    What state is Iron most magnetic?

    Hi guys, I'm designing and making a hydro powered generator for my college engineering project and I want to know what type of Iron e.g. Cast Iron or Wrought Iron has the highest magnetic field strength.
  9. W

    Induction Foil Iron vs. Aluminum

    Hey everyone. This question revolves around induction/cap sealing - or just induction heating in general. Does anyone have an idea of why aluminum foil is used in induction sealing vs. using something that is magnetic, such as iron foil? My initial thought is simply aluminum foil being...
  10. W

    RF Susceptor Heating (KHz range) Graphite Foil vs Iron Foil (or thin film)

    Which do you believe is the best choice for a low temperature RF heating susceptor, i.e. - greatest rise in temperature vs. field strength. I am aware that Graphite (expanded graphite foil) has excellent thermal conductance in plane and therefore makes for very even heating patterns over large...
  11. X

    Forming Iron Oxide Quickly with Bleach and Vinegar

    I have heard that when Hypochlorite bleach and vinegar mix they react to create an even stronger oxidizer than bleach alone, that doesn't reach equilibrium as fast as bleach alone. So, I wanted to make rust quickly for some experiments and tried this method with steel wool. Not kitchen steel...
  12. T

    Differences in iron properties inside & outside the body

    What is difference between iron that we use in food...and iron metal
  13. M

    ? about Soldering Iron Tip Care

    I have a Weller WTCP station (antique) that I just bought new tips for. I read in some tip reviews that the new "lead-free" technology has ruined the lifespan of tips. Does anyone have any tricks or hints to lengthen the lifespan of these new tips? Any process that can improve the tip? Any...
  14. N

    Software for generating magnetic field within iron

    Dear All, I need to design a magnetized iron calorimeter detector (HEP ex). There will be current coils (in the vertical plane) that will generate x-y magnetic field within iron. Given the detector boundaries and exact locations of the coils (i.e. all the B.C.s), I need to obtain the...
  15. K

    How Is the Diameter of an Iron Atom Calculated?

    Homework Statement 55.847 grams of iron contain NA=6.02E23 atoms. the density is ρ=7.87 [gr/cm3]. What is the diameter of the iron atom Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution The volume of 55.847 grams is: $$\frac{55.847}{7.87}=7.1[cm^3]$$ I assume the NA number of atoms is...
  16. caters

    Iron oxide formation and solvation

    I notice when I put my wagon out and expose it to rainwater that because it is not made of stainless steel, after a while of water exposure it rusts creating Iron oxide and Iron Hydroxide in the process. Then after even more water exposure the rust washes off and I have steel with no rust in...
  17. S

    How Much Lithium Scatters on an Iron Plate Per Second?

    Homework Statement Every second ##N_{Li}=2\cdot 10^8## atoms of ##_3^7Li## with kinetic energy ##30 MeV## is Coulomb scattering on ##_{26}^{56}Fe## plate ##d_{Fe}=0.3mm## thick with density ##\rho =7800kg/m^3##. Under angle of ##30^°## and ##r=0.2m## away from the plate we have a target with...
  18. M

    Why there are spaces in b/w iron fillings sprinkled around a magnet?

    Iron fillings form a particular arrangement when sprinkled around a magnet. The direction of magnetic field lines represented by the alignment of iron filings sprinkled on paper placed above a bar magnet. Image and description credits: Wikipedia If a magnet, which can...
  19. H

    What happens when a piece of iron is put into an inductor?

    Homework Statement You have a circuit with current I running through a solenoid. You insert a small piece of iron into the coil; what happens? Homework Equations d(Magnetic Flux)/dt = -EMF The Attempt at a Solution Iron is diamagnetic, so inserting it will decrease the magnetic field...
  20. W

    Laminated iron core inside a coil magnetic field question

    A laminated iron core was inserted into a coil with an AC current flowing in the coil. 1.The current in the circuit decreased after inserting the core. 2.Also the magnetic field was found to be stronger on the outer edge than in the center of the laminated iron core. How to explain the fall...
  21. S

    Stars Creating Elements Heavier than Iron

    I am curious how stars form elements heavier than iron. I have read that it generally occurs in the supernova death of a star or when neutron stars collide but have not read anything much more specific. I have read the wiki link on Nucleosynthesis but it doesn't have much in the way of...
  22. KiNGGeexD

    Calculating the temperature of the sun using wavelength of iron atoms

    I had this question given in my class A spectral line from iron (mass 55.934 amu) atoms in the sun is measured as 637.4 nm. It's width is measured to be 0.053 nm. Calculate the temperature of the sun?Now I done this using a formulae I was given but it yielded an answer no where near 5778KAbove...
  23. U

    Inserting iron core in an inductor coil

    Homework Statement A coil is connected in series with a bulb and this combination is connected to a DC source. When an iron core is inserted in the coil, what will happen to the brightness of the bulb? The Attempt at a Solution When the iron core is inserted, the magnetic field...
  24. B

    The Force of an Array of Perm. Magnets on a Large Iron Body

    For my senior physics research project I've developed an orbital analysis program that calculates the minimum \Delta V required (applied in an instantaneous impulse) to deflect an inbound Earth impacting asteroid. I've generated data for several different hypothetical orbits and now my advisor...
  25. S

    Maxwell Stress Tensor -> Force between magnets and perfect iron

    (this is not a hw) Assume you have a magnet of dimensions x_m, h_m, remanent flux density Br, and coercive field density Hc. The magnet is placed in a magnetic "C" structure (perfect iron) such that it is connected on one side but there is an airgap on the other side. xxxxxxxx xx... xx...
  26. Q

    Took apart a hot plate, nichrome is touching directly to the iron?

    Took apart a hot plate, nichrome is touching directly to the iron?? How is it not shorting out?
  27. N

    Black Hole Formation and Iron Distribution

    Hi, does anyone know how much of the universes's iron or carbon has been made in supernovae that formed black holes? Is it 5, 10, 50 % of the iron currently pressent here? And, if se, do we have any idea how much of the average stars content gets traped in the BH versus the mass of the...
  28. S

    Magnetic Moment Of Steel and Iron Wire

    Hello all, i would like to ask which is the magnetic moment of a steel and a iron wire with a length of 10,20 or 30cm! Is there any equation from which the magnetic moment can be derived? Thanks in advance :)!
  29. C

    Exploring Plasma, Iron & Noble Gases: Temperature & Solid State

    The way I understand plasma is that is almost a gas except some of the electrons of separated from the nuclei entirely making positively charged. Is there a temperature in which Iron is by definition a gas, and not a plasma? Also, can something like a noble gas become a solid?
  30. V

    Addition of carbon to cast iron beyond 6.67%

    can anyone please give me the answer for addition of carbon to cast iron beyond 6.67%..
  31. D

    Does Every Iron Core Have the Same Relative Permeability?

    B = μ0nI Usually, the value of B is quite small... I'd like to boost the magnetic field B to a much larger and stronger field, and the most efficient way I find to do that is using a high permeability core B = ku0nI. What is the average μr of an iron core? They range from what value? Do all...
  32. stardust

    Why Does Iron Take More Energy to Create Fusion Than Other Elements?

    Hello, this is my first post(so, hopefully I'm not breaking any decorum). Something that I've always been puzzled about. I understand that a star will keep fusing elements until it hits iron. What I'm curious of, is why? Why does iron take so much more energy to create fusion than other...
  33. S

    Which way does the magnetism of the cubic iron struture point?

    If you apply a field to iron the various domains move around, are the individual atoms of the FCC or BCC iron aligning with the field or does the unit cube tend to have an overall orientation which moves? If so then how would you know how the unit cubes are aligned relative to their poles...
  34. M

    Can someone explain the iron shavings flux line experiment to me?

    In regards to the famous experiment where a magnet is put under a sheet of paper with iron shavings on top, i don't understand why they distribute according to the shape of the magnetic lines of flux. (as seen in the link below)...
  35. K

    Biological life as hard as iron?

    Would it be possible for biological life to evolve a part of itself to be as hard as iron? I’m thinking of a tree analog. The wood or bark can replace metal for a low-tech society. The planet itself is deficient in metals because of its history, so I’m not thinking that the life form uses...
  36. M

    Calculate the amount of force required to deform an iron by 1 foot?

    How to calculate the amount of force required to deform an iron by 1 foot?
  37. D

    The Hysteresis Loop of Raw Iron: Understanding Coercivity and Magnetization

    The "area" of the hysteresis loop depends on the coercivity, the coercivity of raw iron(Wrought iron) is 2 Oe(160 A/m). If 1 gauss = 103/ 4∏ = 79.58 A/m(I'm not sure about this, http://www.sste.mmu.ac.uk/users/shoon/pers_page/envmagn_tables_anal/Mag-Units-Tables-New.pdf(under "General working...
  38. D

    Energy required to magnetize soft iron?

    Out of all the formula's I studied, I could not figure out how much energy is required to magnetize soft iron ferromagnetic material that has a small hysteresis loop(Due to the low coercive force)... How can I figure this out? Also magnetization energy = demagnetization energy correct?
  39. V

    Iron Pill Overdose: Is Deferasirox Safe and Effective in Treating Iron Toxicity?

    I have seen that the recommended daily intake of iron for adults is 45 mg/day. I've seen even lower estimates. These iron pills that I bought contain 50 mg of iron and give 278% of your daily value intake. The instructions say take two tablets daily. Isn't this a bit extreme or am I not...
  40. L

    Electromagnet with External Iron 'Core'

    Is there a reason why a wire coil inside of an iron pipe wouldn't work as an electromagnet?
  41. J

    Electron orbitals of iron and copper

    I was reading an article about the electron orbitals of iron and copper: The electronic configuration of iron is 1s 2, 2s 2, 2p 6, 3s 2, 3p 6, 4s 2, 3d 6 And that of copper is 1s 2, 2s 2, 2p 6, 3s 2, 3p 6, 4s 1, 3d 10 Iron has an incompletely filled d orbital while copper has a full...
  42. Z

    Magnetic sphere moving through iron dust; find velocity & other things

    Homework Statement A small magnetic sphere of initial mass Mo and initial radius Ro is moving through a space filled with iron dust. During its motion, 5% of displaced dust is deposited uniformly onto the surface of sphere. Given the density of dust to be ρ, find: 1. relation rate of increase...
  43. z.js

    Galvanic Cell Plating of Iron & Magnesium on Copper: What Use is it?

    I was thinking of plating iron or magnesium on to copper with a galvanic cell. Would this work? 3Cu(s) + 2Fe2+(aq) --> 3Cu2+(aq) + 2Fe(s) Cu(s) + Mg2+(aq) --> Cu2+(aq) + Mg(s) In the cathode, when the Cu turns into Cu2+ and makes Cu(OH)2, of what use is it? And in the anode, when the O2-...
  44. A

    Exploring Iron's BCC Atomic Positions with Increasing Atom Numbers

    how do i determine the different atomic positions of iron (bcc) as the number of atom increases.
  45. B

    How Does Moving an Iron Rod Affect Ammeter Readings in a Solenoid Circuit?

    Homework Statement A solenoid with a large number of turns of wire is connected in series with an ammeter and a battery. An iron rod is moved towards the solenoid at constant speed. What will happen to the reading on the ammeter (A) as the rod moves closer to the solenoid, before...
  46. M

    Solving Spinning Iron Wire Angular Velocity Change

    Homework Statement Iron atoms (atomic mass 56) contain two free electron spins that can align with an external magnetic field. An iron wire 3 cm long and 1 mm in diameter is suspended vertically and is free to rotate about its axis. A strong magnetic field parallel to the wire's axis is...
  47. U

    Iron ball hanging from a scale and suspended

    Iron ball hanging from a scale and suspended... 1. Iron ball hanging from a scale and suspended in a glass of water filled to the rim, what happens to the reading of the scale, volume of water, and weight of the glass of water? 2. FB = weight of removed water by the ball 3. there's a FB...
  48. U

    Iron ball hanging from a scale and suspended

    Iron ball hanging from a scale and suspended... Iron ball hanging from a scale and suspended in a glass of water filled to the rim, what happens to the reading of the scale, volume of water, and weight of the glass of water? The attempt at a solution: there's an FB that's equal to the...
  49. S

    How many times must an 80 kg weight be lifted to burn off .5 kg of fat?

    An athlete needs to lose weight and decides to do it by "pumping iron". How many times must an 80 kg weight be lifted a distance of 1 m in order to burn off .5 kg of fat, assuming that that much fat is equivalent to 3500 Cal? Q = n\left(m\cdot g \cdot h\right)...
  50. S

    Cast iron specific heat in function of the temp

    Hi all, I need the relationship between cast iron specific heat and temperature in order to perform a disc brake thermal analysis. Where could I get this data? I just need average values for a typical cast iron used for disc brakes. Any suggestion is appreciated Thanks
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