Element Iron, Fe Ferrum, Transition Metal
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Iron History
Iron is one of the seven metals of the hoary Ancientry. It is supposed that human beings started to work on meteorite iron earlier than with other metals. From the high antiquity iron was extracted from ores which were deposited everywhere.
The Latin ferrum which has become the international comes from Greek-Latin fars (to be hard) which roots in Sanskrit bhars (to harden). The accordance with ferreus, which means "insensitive, tough, hard, inflexible, heavy" and with ferre (to carry) is also possible. Alchemist used, with Ferrum, also other names, such as Iris, Sarsar, Phaulec and so on.
Iron Occurrence
Meteorite iron is not pure. Usually it contains 30% or less other elements. It may be hammered in the cold state, but becomes brittle when heated.
Iron inclusions may be found in basalt and other igneous rocks. It is supposed that find the Earth's core is predominantly iron metal starting from 2900 km depth (the Earth's equatorial radius is 6377 km) and is composed of iron (91-92%) / nickel (8-9%) alloy.
Iron is most abundant element after oxygen, silicon and aluminium. Iron compounds form a great number of minerals and rocks, soils and living organisms; however the iron ores are few. Iron oxide ores are most valuable among them.
Iron is essential to nearly all known organisms, with concentration approximately 0.02%. It is a very essential element for oxygen exchange and oxidizing processes. Some living organisms, so-called iron concentrators are able to deposit large amounts of iron (until 17-20%) within them like, for instance, iron depositing bacteria. Iron in living organisms is almost entirely involved in protein processes. Iron deficiency, aggravated by high soil pH (alkali soils), brings to plants growth inhibition and chlorosis, a condition in which leaves produce insufficient chlorophyll. Iron abundance in the case of low soil pH (acid soils) is also harmful: it causes flowers sterility. Such plant diseases may occur in large areas.
Iron Neighbours
Complete Periodic Table | |