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Periodic Table of Elements

Element Iron – Fe

Comprehensive data on the chemical element Iron is provided on this page; including scores of properties, element names in many languages, most known nuclides of Iron. Common chemical compounds are also provided for many elements. In addition technical terms are linked to their definitions and the menu contains links to related articles that are a great aid in one studies. Using the "Periodic Table of Elements Quick Navigation" graphic at the bottom of the sidebar menu, one can quickly jump from chemical element to chemical element.

Iron Menu

• Iron Page One
  • Overview of Iron
  • Iron's Name in Other Languages
  • Atomic Structure of Iron
  • Chemical Properties of Iron
  • Physical Properties of Iron
  • Regulatory / Health
  • Who/When/Where/How
• Iron Page Two
  • Nuclides / Isotopes
  • Potential Parent Nuclides
• Iron Page Three
  • Common Chemical Compounds of Iron

Overview of Iron

• Atomic Number:26
• Group: 8
• Period: 4
• Series: Transition Metals

Iron's Name in Other Languages

• Latin: Ferrum
• Czech: elezo
• Croatian: eljezo
• French: Fer
• German: Eisen - s
• Italian: Ferro
• Norwegian: Jern
• Portuguese: Ferro
• Russian:
• Spanish: Hierro
• Swedish: Järn

Atomic Structure of Iron

• Atomic Radius: 1.72Å
• Atomic Volume: 7.1cm³/mol
• Covalent Radius: 1.17Å
• Cross Section (Thermal Neutron Capture)_a/barns: 2.56
• Crystal Structure: Cubic body centered

  

• Electron Configuration:

  1s² 2s²p⁶ 3s²p⁶d⁶ 4s²

• Electrons per Energy Level: 2,8,14,2

  Shell Model
  

• Ionic Radius: 0.645Å
• Filling Orbital: 3d⁶
• Number of Electrons (with no charge): 26
• Number of Neutrons (most common/stable nuclide): 30
• Number of Protons: 26
• Oxidation States: 2,3
• Valence Electrons: 3d⁶ 4s²

  Electron Dot Model
  

Chemical Properties of Iron

• Electrochemical Equivalent: 0.69455g/amp-hr
• Electron Work Function: 4.7eV
• Electronegativity: 1.83 (Pauling); 1.64 (Allrod Rochow)
• Heat of Fusion: 13.8kJ/mol
• Incompatibilities:

• Ionization Potential
  • First: 7.87
  • Second: 16.18
  • Third: 30.651
• Valence Electron Potential (-eV): 67

Physical Properties of Iron

• Atomic Mass Average: 55.847
• Boiling Point: 3023K 2750°C 4982°F
• Coefficient of lineal thermal expansion/K^-1: 12.3E^-6
• Conductivity

  Electrical: 0.0993 10⁶/cm
  Thermal: 0.802 W/cmK

• Density: 7.874g/cc @ 300K
• Description:

  Pure iron is lustrous, silvery and easy to work. Iron easily rusts in damp air.

• Elastic Modulus:
  • Bulk: 170/GPa
  • Rigidity: 82/GPa
  • Youngs: 211/GPa
• Enthalpy of Atomization: 414.2 kJ/mole @ 25°C
• Enthalpy of Fusion: 14.9 kJ/mole
• Enthalpy of Vaporization: 351 kJ/mole
• Flammablity Class:
• Freezing Point: see melting point
• Hardness Scale
  • Brinell: 490 MN m^-2
  • Mohs: 4
  • Vickers: 608 MN m^-2
• Heat of Vaporization: 349.6kJ/mol
• Melting Point: 1808K 1535°C 2795°F
  
• Molar Volume: 7.11 cm³/mole
• Optical Reflectivity: 65%
• Physical State (at 20°C & 1atm): Solid
• Specific Heat: 0.44J/gK
• Vapor Pressure = 7.05Pa@1535°C

Regulatory / Health

• CAS Number
  • 7439-89-6
• OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL)
  • No limits set by OSHA
• OSHA PEL Vacated 1989
  • No limits set by OSHA
• NIOSH Recommended Exposure Limit (REL)
  • No limits set by NIOSH
• Levels In Humans:
  Note: this data represents naturally occuring levels of elements in the typical human, it DOES NOT represent recommended daily allowances.
  • Blood/mg dm^-3: 447
  • Bone/p.p.m: 3-380
  • Liver/p.p.m: 250-1400
  • Muscle/p.p.m: 180
  • Daily Dietary Intake: 6-40 mg
  • Total Mass In Avg. 70kg human: 4.2 g
• Discovery Year: Unknown
• Name Origin:

  Latin, ferrum; Anglo-Saxon, iron

• Abundance of Iron:
  • Earth's Crust/p.p.m.: 41000
  • Seawater/p.p.m.:
    • Atlantic Suface: 0.0001
    • Atlantic Deep: 0.0004
    • Pacific Surface: 0.00001
    • Pacific Deep: 0.0001
  • Atmosphere/p.p.m.: N/A
  • Sun (Relative to H=1E¹²): 3.16E+07
• Sources of Iron:

  Obtained from hematite, magnetite, goethite, lepidocrocite and siderite. Annual world production is around 716,000,000 tons. Primary areas iron is mined are USA, Canada, Sweden, South Africa, Russia, India and Japan.

• Uses of Iron:

  Used in steel and other alloys which are used in countless products. It is essential for animals as it is the chief constituent of hemoglobin which carries oxygen in blood vessels. Iron is the most important element of all the metals.

• Additional Notes:

  Deficiency of iron leads to anaemia, but excess iron in the body causes liver and kidney damage.

[Last update: 2/22/2007]

Notes below

Iron Menu

• Iron Page One
  • Overview of Iron
  • Iron's Name in Other Languages
  • Atomic Structure of Iron
  • Chemical Properties of Iron
  • Physical Properties of Iron
  • Regulatory / Health
  • Who/When/Where/How
• Iron Page Two
  • Nuclides / Isotopes
  • Potential Parent Nuclides
• Iron Page Three
  • Common Chemical Compounds of Iron

Related Resources

• Anatomy of the Atom
  Answers many questions regarding the structure of atoms.
• Molarity, Molality and Normality
  Introduces stoichiometry and explains the differences between molarity, molality and normality.
• Molar Mass Calculations and Javascript Calculator
  Molar mass calculations are explained and there is a JavaScript calculator to aid calculations.
• Chemical Database
  This database focuses on the most common chemical compounds used in the home and industry.

Citing this page

If you need to cite this page, you can copy this text:

Kenneth Barbalace. Periodic Table of Elements - Iron – Fe. EnvironmentalChemistry.com. 1995 - 2009. Accessed on-line: 1/8/2009
http://EnvironmentalChemistry.com/yogi/periodic/Fe.html
.