Iron

Iron (Fe)

Iron is the 26th element in the periodic table and has a symbol of Fe and atomic number of 26. It has an atomic weight of 55.845 and a mass number of 56. Iron has twenty-six protons and thirty neutrons in its nucleus, and twenty-six electrons in four shells. It is located in group eight, period four and block d of the periodic table. Silvery malleable and ductile metallic transition element. Has nine isotopes and is the fourth most abundant element in the earth's crust. Required by living organisms as a trace element (used in hemoglobin in humans.) Quite reactive, oxidizes in moist air, displaces hydrogen from dilute acids and combines with nonmetallic elements.
Atomic Number26
Atomic Weight55.845
Mass Number56
Group8
Period4
Blockd
Protons26 p+
Neutrons30 n0
Electrons26 e-
Animated Bohr Model of Fe (Iron)

Physical Properties

Atomic Radius
Molar Volume
Covalent Radius
Metallic Radius
Ionic Radius
Crystal Radius
Van der Waals Radius
Density
Atomic Radii of the Elements: Iron0102030405060708090100110120130140150160170180190200210pmAtomic RadiusCovalent RadiusMetallic RadiusVan der Waals Radius

Chemical Properties

Energy
Proton Affinity
Electron Affinity
Ionization Energy
Ionization Energies of Fe (Iron)
Heat of Vaporization
Heat of Fusion
Heat of Formation
Electrons
Electron Shells2, 8, 14, 2
Bohr Model: Fe (Iron)
Valence Electrons2
Lewis Structure: Fe (Iron)
Electron Configuration[Ar] 3d6 4s2
1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d6 4s2
Enhanced Bohr Model of Fe (Iron)
Orbital Diagram of Fe (Iron)
Oxidation States-4, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Electronegativity
1.83
Electrophilicity Index
States of Matter
PhaseSolid
Gas Phase
Boiling Point
Melting Point
Critical Pressure
Critical Temperature
Triple Point
Visual

Iron is a Gray. Fe has a CPK of #ffa500, Jmol of #e06633, and MOLCAS GV of #e06633. The Appearance of Element 26 is lustrous metallic with a grayish tinge.

Color
Gray
Appearancelustrous metallic with a grayish tinge
Refractive Index
Thermodynamic Properties
Thermal Conductivity
Thermal Expansion
Molar Heat Capacity
Specific Heat Capacity
Heat Capacity Ratio (Adiabatic Index)
Electrical Properties
TypeConductor
Electrical Conductivity
Electrical Resistivity
Superconducting Point
Magnetism
Typeferromagnetic
Magnetic Susceptibility (Mass)
Magnetic Susceptibility (Molar)
Magnetic Susceptibility (Volume)
Magnetic Ordering
Curie Point
Neel Point
Structure

The Crystal Structure of Iron is BCC. The lattice constant of Fe is 2.87 Å. The lattice angles of Element 26 are π/2, π/2, π/2.

Crystal StructureBody Centered Cubic (BCC)
Lattice Constant
Lattice Anglesπ/2, π/2, π/2
Mechanical Properties

Iron has a Brinell of 490 MPa, Mohs hardness of 4 MPa, and Vickers of 608 MPa. The Bulk Modulus of Fe is 170 GPa. The Shear Modulus of Element 26 is 82 GPa. The Young Modulus of Iron (Fe) is 211 GPa. The Poisson Ratio of Iron is 0.29. The Speed of Sound of Fe is 4910 m/s.

Hardness
Bulk Modulus
Shear Modulus
Young's Modulus
Poisson Ratio
0.29
Speed of Sound
Classification

The CAS Group of Iron is VIIIA. The IUPAC Group of Fe is VIII. The Glawe Number of Element 26 is 71. The Mendeleev Number of Iron (Fe) is 59. The Pettifor Number of Iron is 61. The Geochemical Class of Fe is major. The Goldschmidt Class of Element 26 is siderophile.

CategoryTransition metals, Transition metals
CAS GroupVIIIA
IUPAC GroupVIII
Glawe Number71
Mendeleev Number59
Pettifor Number61
Geochemical Classmajor
Goldschmidt Classsiderophile

Other

The Gas Basicity of Iron is 731.1 kJ/mol. The Dipole Polarizability of Fe is 62 plus or minus 4 a₀. Element 26 has a C6 Dispersion Coefficient (CD) of 482 a₀, and C6 Dispersion Coefficient (GB) of 548 a₀. The Allotropes of Iron (Fe) is . The Neutron Cross Section of Iron is 2.56. The Neutron Mass Absorption of Fe is 0.0015. The Quantum Numbers of Element 26 is 5D4. The Space Group of Iron (Fe) is 229 (Im_3m).

Gas Basicity
Dipole Polarizability
C6 Dispersion Coefficient
Allotropes
Neutron Cross Section
2.56
Neutron Mass Absorption
0.0015
Quantum Numbers5D4
Space Group229 (Im_3m)

Isotopes of Iron

Stable Isotopes3
Unstable Isotopes29
Natural Isotopes4
Isotopic Composition5691.75%5691.75%545.85%545.85%572.12%572.12%580.28%580.28%

45Fe

Mass Number45
Neutron Number19
Relative Atomic Mass
G-Factor
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
2.5 ± 0.2 ms
Spin3/2
Quadrupole Moment
Discovery Year1996
Parity+

Decay ModeIntensity
2p (2-proton emission)70%
β+ (β+ decay; β+ = ϵ + e+)30%
β+ p (β+-delayed proton emission)18.9%
2p (2-proton emission)7.8%

46Fe

Mass Number46
Neutron Number20
Relative Atomic Mass
G-Factor
0
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
13 ± 2 ms
Spin0
Quadrupole Moment
0
Discovery Year1992
Parity+

Decay ModeIntensity
β+ (β+ decay; β+ = ϵ + e+)100%
β+ p (β+-delayed proton emission)78.7%
2p (2-proton emission)

47Fe

Mass Number47
Neutron Number21
Relative Atomic Mass
G-Factor
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
21.9 ± 0.2 ms
Spin7/2
Quadrupole Moment
Discovery Year1992
Parity-

Decay ModeIntensity
β+ (β+ decay; β+ = ϵ + e+)100%
β+ p (β+-delayed proton emission)88.4%

48Fe

Mass Number48
Neutron Number22
Relative Atomic Mass
G-Factor
0
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
45.3 ± 0.6 ms
Spin0
Quadrupole Moment
0
Discovery Year1987
Parity+

Decay ModeIntensity
β+ (β+ decay; β+ = ϵ + e+)100%
β+ p (β+-delayed proton emission)15.3%

49Fe

Mass Number49
Neutron Number23
Relative Atomic Mass
G-Factor
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
64.7 ± 0.3 ms
Spin7/2
Quadrupole Moment
Discovery Year1970
Parity-

Decay ModeIntensity
β+ (β+ decay; β+ = ϵ + e+)100%
β+ p (β+-delayed proton emission)56.7%

50Fe

Mass Number50
Neutron Number24
Relative Atomic Mass
G-Factor
0
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
152 ± 0.6 ms
Spin0
Quadrupole Moment
0
Discovery Year1977
Parity+

Decay ModeIntensity
β+ (β+ decay; β+ = ϵ + e+)100%
β+ p (β+-delayed proton emission)0%

51Fe

Mass Number51
Neutron Number25
Relative Atomic Mass
G-Factor
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
305.4 ± 2.3 ms
Spin5/2
Quadrupole Moment
Discovery Year1972
Parity-

Decay ModeIntensity
β+ (β+ decay; β+ = ϵ + e+)100%

52Fe

Mass Number52
Neutron Number26
Relative Atomic Mass
G-Factor
0
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
8.275 ± 0.008 h
Spin0
Quadrupole Moment
0
Discovery Year1948
Parity+

Decay ModeIntensity
β+ (β+ decay; β+ = ϵ + e+)100%

53Fe

Mass Number53
Neutron Number27
Relative Atomic Mass
G-Factor
-0.18571428571429 ± 0.0028571428571429
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
8.51 ± 0.02 m
Spin7/2
Quadrupole Moment
Discovery Year1938
Parity-

Decay ModeIntensity
β+ (β+ decay; β+ = ϵ + e+)100%

54Fe

Mass Number54
Neutron Number28
Relative Atomic Mass
G-Factor
0
Abundance
5.845 ± 0.105
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
Spin0
Quadrupole Moment
0
Discovery Year1923
Parity+

Decay ModeIntensity
+ (double β+ decay)

55Fe

Mass Number55
Neutron Number29
Relative Atomic Mass
G-Factor
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
2.7562 ± 0.0004 y
Spin3/2
Quadrupole Moment
Discovery Year1939
Parity-

Decay ModeIntensity
ϵ (electron capture)100%

56Fe

Mass Number56
Neutron Number30
Relative Atomic Mass
G-Factor
0
Abundance
91.754 ± 0.106
RadioactivityStable
Half LifeNot Radioactive ☢️
Spin0
Quadrupole Moment
0
Discovery Year1923
Parity+

57Fe

Mass Number57
Neutron Number31
Relative Atomic Mass
G-Factor
Abundance
2.119 ± 0.029
RadioactivityStable
Half LifeNot Radioactive ☢️
Spin1/2
Quadrupole Moment
0
Discovery Year1935
Parity-

58Fe

Mass Number58
Neutron Number32
Relative Atomic Mass
G-Factor
0
Abundance
0.282 ± 0.012
RadioactivityStable
Half LifeNot Radioactive ☢️
Spin0
Quadrupole Moment
0
Discovery Year1935
Parity+

59Fe

Mass Number59
Neutron Number33
Relative Atomic Mass
G-Factor
-0.22386666666667 ± 0.00026666666666667
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
44.5 ± 0.012 d
Spin3/2
Quadrupole Moment
Discovery Year1938
Parity-

Decay ModeIntensity
β (β decay)100%

60Fe

Mass Number60
Neutron Number34
Relative Atomic Mass
G-Factor
0
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
2.62 ± 0.04 My
Spin0
Quadrupole Moment
0
Discovery Year1957
Parity+

Decay ModeIntensity
β (β decay)100%

61Fe

Mass Number61
Neutron Number35
Relative Atomic Mass
G-Factor
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
5.98 ± 0.06 m
Spin3/2
Quadrupole Moment
Discovery Year1957
Parity-

Decay ModeIntensity
β (β decay)100%

62Fe

Mass Number62
Neutron Number36
Relative Atomic Mass
G-Factor
0
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
68 ± 2 s
Spin0
Quadrupole Moment
0
Discovery Year1975
Parity+

Decay ModeIntensity
β (β decay)100%

63Fe

Mass Number63
Neutron Number37
Relative Atomic Mass
G-Factor
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
6.1 ± 0.6 s
Spin5/2
Quadrupole Moment
Discovery Year1980
Parity-

Decay ModeIntensity
β (β decay)100%

64Fe

Mass Number64
Neutron Number38
Relative Atomic Mass
G-Factor
0
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
2 ± 0.2 s
Spin0
Quadrupole Moment
0
Discovery Year1980
Parity+

Decay ModeIntensity
β (β decay)100%

65Fe

Mass Number65
Neutron Number39
Relative Atomic Mass
G-Factor
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
805 ± 10 ms
Spin1/2
Quadrupole Moment
0
Discovery Year1980
Parity-

Decay ModeIntensity
β (β decay)100%
β n (β-delayed neutron emission)

66Fe

Mass Number66
Neutron Number40
Relative Atomic Mass
G-Factor
0
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
467 ± 29 ms
Spin0
Quadrupole Moment
0
Discovery Year1985
Parity+

Decay ModeIntensity
β (β decay)100%
β n (β-delayed neutron emission)

67Fe

Mass Number67
Neutron Number41
Relative Atomic Mass
G-Factor
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
394 ± 9 ms
Spin1/2
Quadrupole Moment
0
Discovery Year1985
Parity-

Decay ModeIntensity
β (β decay)100%
β n (β-delayed neutron emission)

68Fe

Mass Number68
Neutron Number42
Relative Atomic Mass
G-Factor
0
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
188 ± 4 ms
Spin0
Quadrupole Moment
0
Discovery Year1985
Parity+

Decay ModeIntensity
β (β decay)100%
β n (β-delayed neutron emission)0%

69Fe

Mass Number69
Neutron Number43
Relative Atomic Mass
G-Factor
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
162 ± 7 ms
Spin1/2
Quadrupole Moment
0
Discovery Year1992
Parity-

Decay ModeIntensity
β (β decay)100%
β n (β-delayed neutron emission)
2n (2-neutron emission)

70Fe

Mass Number70
Neutron Number44
Relative Atomic Mass
G-Factor
0
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
61.4 ± 0.7 ms
Spin0
Quadrupole Moment
0
Discovery Year1997
Parity+

Decay ModeIntensity
β (β decay)100%
β n (β-delayed neutron emission)

71Fe

Mass Number71
Neutron Number45
Relative Atomic Mass
G-Factor
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
34.3 ± 2.6 ms
Spin7/2
Quadrupole Moment
Discovery Year1997
Parity+

Decay ModeIntensity
β (β decay)100%
β n (β-delayed neutron emission)
2n (2-neutron emission)

72Fe

Mass Number72
Neutron Number46
Relative Atomic Mass
G-Factor
0
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
17 ± 1 ms
Spin0
Quadrupole Moment
0
Discovery Year1997
Parity+

Decay ModeIntensity
β (β decay)100%
β n (β-delayed neutron emission)
2n (2-neutron emission)

73Fe

Mass Number73
Neutron Number47
Relative Atomic Mass
G-Factor
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
12.9 ± 1.6 ms
Spin7/2
Quadrupole Moment
Discovery Year2010
Parity+

Decay ModeIntensity
β (β decay)100%
β n (β-delayed neutron emission)
2n (2-neutron emission)

74Fe

Mass Number74
Neutron Number48
Relative Atomic Mass
G-Factor
0
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
5 ± 5 ms
Spin0
Quadrupole Moment
0
Discovery Year2010
Parity+

Decay ModeIntensity
β (β decay)100%
β n (β-delayed neutron emission)
2n (2-neutron emission)

75Fe

Mass Number75
Neutron Number49
Relative Atomic Mass
G-Factor
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
Spin9/2
Quadrupole Moment
Discovery Year2013
Parity+

Decay ModeIntensity
β (β decay)
β n (β-delayed neutron emission)
2n (2-neutron emission)

76Fe

Mass Number76
Neutron Number50
Relative Atomic Mass
G-Factor
0
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
Spin0
Quadrupole Moment
0
Discovery Year2017
Parity+

Decay ModeIntensity
β (β decay)
Iron electrolytic and 1cm3 cube

History

The first iron used by humans is likely to have come from meteorites. The oldest known iron objects used by humans are some beads of meteoric iron, made in Egypt in about 4000 BC. The discovery of smelting around 3000 BC led to the start of the iron age around 1200 BC and the prominent use of iron for tools and weapons. From the Latin word ferrum

DiscoverersKnown to the ancients.
Discovery Location
Discovery Year
Etymology (Name Origin)Anglo-Saxon: iron; symbol from Latin: ferrum (iron).
PronunciationEYE-ern (English)
Iron is considered to be non-toxic
The color of blood is due to the hemoglobin, an iron-containing protein

Uses

Iron is used to manufacture steel and other alloys important in construction and manufacturing. Iron is a vital constituent of plant and animal life and works as an oxygen carrier in hemoglobin. Iron oxide mixed with aluminum powder can be ignited to create a thermite reaction, used in welding and purifying ores. Used in steel and other alloys. Essential for humans. It is the chief constituent of hemoglobin which carries oxygen in blood vessels. Its oxides are used in magnetic tapes and disks.

Sources

Obtained from iron ores. Pure metal produced in blast furnaces by layering limestone, coke and iron ore and forcing hot gasses into the bottom. This heats the coke red hot and the iron is reduced from its oxides and liquified where it flows to the bottom

Abundance
Abundance in Earth's crust
Natural Abundance (Oceans)
Natural Abundance (Human Body)
0.006 %
Natural Abundance (Meteor)
22 %
Natural Abundance (Sun)
0.1 %
Abundance in Universe
0.11 %

Nuclear Screening Constants

1s0.619
2p3.9112
2s7.401
3d14.8202
3p13.2221
3s12.3239
4s20.566

Also Known As

  • Fe
  • element 26
  • 26Fe

Translations

  • Frenchfer
  • Italianferro
  • Spanishhierro
  • Norwegian Bokmåljern
  • GermanEisen
  • Dutchijzer
  • Chinese (Traditional)
  • Afrikaansyster
  • Amharicብረት
  • AragoneseFierro
  • Old EnglishĪsen
  • Arabicحديد
  • Aramaicܦܪܙܠܐ
  • AsturianFierro
  • AzerbaijaniDəmir
  • BashkirТимер
  • BelarusianЖалеза
  • Bulgarianжелязо
  • BanjarWasi
  • Banglaলোহা
  • BretonHouarn
  • Bosnianželjezo
  • Catalanferro
  • CherokeeᏔᎷᎩᏍᎩ
  • Central Kurdishئاسن
  • CorsicanFerru
  • Czechželezo
  • ChuvashТимĕр
  • WelshHaearn
  • Danishjern
  • Divehiދަގަނޑު
  • Greekσίδηρος
  • Esperantofero
  • Estonianraud
  • Basqueburdina
  • ExtremaduranHierru
  • Persianآهن
  • Finnishrauta
  • Northern FrisianStälj
  • FriulianFier
  • Western FrisianIzer
  • IrishIarann
  • Gan Chinese
  • Scottish GaelicIarann
  • Galicianferro
  • GuaraniItakandua
  • Gujaratiલોખંડ
  • ManxYiarn
  • Hakka ChineseThiet
  • Hebrewברזל
  • Hindiलोहा
  • Fiji HindiLoha
  • Croatianželjezo
  • Haitian Creole
  • Hungarianvas
  • Armenianերկաթ
  • Interlinguaferro
  • Indonesianbesi
  • InterlingueFerre
  • Idofero
  • Icelandicjárn
  • Japanese
  • Lojbantirse
  • Javanesewesi
  • Georgianრკინა
  • KongoKibende
  • KazakhТемір
  • Kannadaಕಬ್ಬಿಣ
  • Korean
  • Komi-Permyakкӧрт
  • ColognianEisen
  • KurdishHesin
  • Komiкӧрт
  • CornishHorn
  • Latinferrum
  • LuxembourgishEisen
  • lbeМах
  • LimburgishIezer
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  • Malayalamഇരുമ്പ്
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  • Erzyaкшни
  • nahTlīltic tepoztli
  • Low GermanIesen
  • Low German (Netherlands)Iezer
  • Nepaliफलाम
  • Newariनँ
  • Norwegian Nynorskjern
  • nrm
  • NavajoBéésh
  • OccitanFèrre
  • Odiaଲୌହ
  • OsseticÆфсæйнаг
  • Punjabiਲੋਹਾ
  • Papiamentoheru
  • Polishżelazo
  • Western Panjabiلوآ
  • Pashtoاوسپنه
  • Portugueseferro
  • QuechuaKhillay
  • Romanianfier
  • Russianжелезо
  • RusynЖелїзо
  • Sanskritअयः
  • YakutТимир
  • Sicilianferru
  • Scotsairn
  • Serbo-Croatianželjezo
  • Slovakželezo
  • Slovenianželezo
  • SomaliBir
  • AlbanianHekuri
  • Serbianгвожде
  • Saterland FrisianIersen
  • Swedishjärn
  • SwahiliChuma
  • Tamilஇரும்பு
  • Teluguఇనుము
  • TajikОҳан
  • Thaiเหล็ก
  • TagalogBakal
  • TurkishDemir
  • Uyghurتۆمۈر
  • Ukrainianзалізо
  • Urduلوہا
  • UzbekTemir
  • VenetianFero
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  • Vietnamesesắt
  • West FlemishYzer
  • WalloonFier
  • WarayPuthaw
  • KalmykТөмр
  • Yiddishאייזן
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  • ZhuangDiet
  • Chinese
  • BislamaAean
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  • German (Switzerland)Eisen
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  • English (Canada)iron
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  • Portuguese (Brazil)ferro
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  • Swiss GermanIise
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  • Min Nan ChineseThih
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  • Belarusian (Taraskievica orthography)жалеза
  • VõroRaud
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  • BuriatТүмэр
  • KabyleUzzal
  • Sinhalaයකඩ
  • AromanianHeru
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  • azbدمیر
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  • Volapükferin
  • Jamaican Creole EnglishAyan
  • oloRaudu
  • Assameseলো
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  • Lingua Franca Novafero
  • Upper Sorbianželezo
  • GorontaloWuwate
  • pihAiyen
  • Goan Konkaniलोखण
  • Maithiliलोहा
  • Tuluಕರ್ಬೊದ ಅದುರು
  • kbpÑɩɣtʊ ñɩɣɖɛ
  • Santaliᱢᱮᱬᱦᱮᱫ
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  • gcr
  • Chinese (Simplified)
  • BavarianEisn
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  • Moroccan Arabicحديد
  • Northern Samiruovdi
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  • Southern Samiruevtie
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