Iron was first discovered by the Egyptians in 4000 BC to make weapons and tools. This is called Iron Age because of the widespread use of iron. Iron comes from Latin word "ferrum". It is reactive element, becomes rusty when exposed to damp air. This process is known as corrosion.
Name: Iron
Symbol: Fe
Atomic number: 26
Atomic weight: 55.845
State: solid
Group, period, block: 8, 4, d
Color: lustrous metallic with a grayish tinge
Classification: transition metal
Electron configuration: 3d6 4s2
2,8,14,2
Physical properties
Density: 7.874 g/cm-3
Melting point: 1811 K, 1538 °C, 2800 °F
Boiling point: 3134 K, 2862 °C, 5182 °F
Atomic properties
Oxidation states: 6, 5,[1]4, 3, 2, 1[2], -1, -2
Electronegativity: 1.83 (Pauling scale)
Ionization energies: 1st: 762.5 kJ·mol-1
Covalent radius: 132±3 (low spin), 152±6 (high spin) pm
Van der Waals radius: no data
- Fe
Electron Configuration
Isotopes
There are four naturally occurring isotopes of iron exist, 54Fe, 56Fe, 57Fe, and 58Fe.