Fe
55.845Iron
Demir
Iron is a transition metal with atomic number 26 and symbol Fe. It is the foundation of steel, a major part of Earth’s core and crust chemistry, and an essential element in hemoglobin, myoglobin and many redox enzymes.
26
55.845 g/mol
[Ar] 3d⁶ 4s²
2 | 8 | 14 | 2
1.83
7.874 g/cm³
1537.8 °C
2860.8 °C
Antik çağ
Iron has been used since ancient times, with widespread use marking the Iron Age. The symbol Fe comes from the Latin word ferrum, and iron-nickel meteorites provided some of the earliest metallic iron used by humans.
Iron-56
Natural abundance: About 91.75%. The most abundant stable isotope of iron.Iron-54
Natural abundance: About 5.85%. Stable isotope of iron.Iron-57
Natural abundance: About 2.12%. Stable isotope used in Mössbauer spectroscopy.Iron-58
Natural abundance: About 0.28%. Stable isotope of iron.Fe₂O₃
Iron(III) OxideHematite ore, rust component and red pigment.Fe₃O₄
Iron(II,III) OxideMagnetite mineral and magnetic material.FeSO₄
Iron(II) SulfateIron supplement, agricultural additive and laboratory reagent.FeCl₃
Iron(III) ChlorideWater treatment coagulant, Lewis acid and printed circuit board etchant.Fe(CO)₅
Iron PentacarbonylOrganometallic compound used in producing high-purity iron powders.- Steel production for buildings, vehicles, machines and infrastructure
- Cast iron and wrought iron for tools, pipes, cookware and historical structures
- Iron catalysts in the Haber-Bosch process for ammonia production
- Magnetic cores, electromagnets and transformers
- Iron supplements and fortified foods for treating or preventing iron deficiency
Iron is essential for oxygen transport and cellular energy. Fe²⁺ in heme helps hemoglobin carry oxygen, while iron-sulfur clusters and cytochromes participate in electron transport and redox chemistry.
- Iron is the main metal in Earth’s core and one of the most important metals in human civilization.
- Rusting is an electrochemical corrosion process involving iron, oxygen and water.
- Hemoglobin depends on iron to bind and transport oxygen in the blood.
- Iron-57 Mössbauer spectroscopy can reveal oxidation state and bonding environment in minerals and catalysts.
- Iron has atomic number 26 and belongs to group 8.
- Its electron configuration is [Ar] 3d⁶ 4s².
- The most common oxidation states are +2 and +3.
- Steel is mostly iron with controlled carbon and alloying elements; cast iron has much higher carbon content than most steels.
What is the atomic number of iron?
The atomic number of iron is 26.
What is the electron configuration of iron?
Iron has the electron configuration [Ar] 3d⁶ 4s².
Why is the symbol for iron Fe?
The symbol Fe comes from ferrum, the Latin word for iron.
What is iron used for?
Iron is used mainly to make steel, cast iron, machinery, buildings, vehicles, magnetic materials, catalysts and supplements.
Why is iron important in hemoglobin?
Iron in heme binds oxygen reversibly, allowing hemoglobin to transport oxygen from the lungs to body tissues.
What causes iron to rust?
Rust forms when iron reacts electrochemically with oxygen and water to produce hydrated iron oxides.