Iron

This Iron pictured above is apart of a metorite.

It fell on Xiquipilco, Mexico along time ago.

Photo Credit: PeriodicTable.com

Atomic Number: 26
Relative Atomic Mass: 55.8
Group: 8
Period: 4
Block: D

Symbol: Fe

Iron (Pictured in the photo: Left) is a shiny greyish metal which (gradually) rusts when it's in air. It is the most important of all the metal on Earth - 90% of all metals refined today in this age is Iron. Although, it is the fourth most abundant element in the Earth's crust.

The common ore for Iron is haematite. But, Iron is widely distributed in other minerals such as magnetite and taconite. There are also other elements like carbon and vanadium which can contaminate pure Iron produce.

The core of Earth is also believed to be made out of Iron with other elements like Nickel and Sulphur.

The industrial revolution relied upon this element. Commercially, Iron is produced by in a blast furnace by heating haematite or magnetite with coke (a form of Carbon) and limestone (Calcium Carbonate, CaCO₃). This way of producing Iron forms the type of Iron known as Pig Iron - This is the type of Iron which has the highest percentage of Carbon, 3%. An estimate of 1.3 billion tonnes of crude steel are worldwide each year.

Discovery of Iron

No one actually knows who found and isolated Iron. It wasn't officially recorded in history. This element was found in tools in Egypt from around 3500 BC (which is 5507 years ago, if you believe this page: Link). These tools weren't exactly pure Iron, they contained 7.5% Nickel. It wasn't until 1500BC in Asia Minor (What we would call Turkey) when the ancient Hittites smelted Iron for the time. It caused the Iron age to come about. 

Smelt means to extract a metal (in this case, Iron) from its ores. Iron gave the Hittites a new sense of economic and political power. Some types of Iron was more superior due to the composition of Carbon within the metal. Some Iron produces also contained Vanadium which was called Damascene Steel - This alloy was ideal for Swords.

René Antoine Ferchault de Réaumaur, a French entomologist and writer, was the first person to write a book about this subject. It was named the 'Memoirs of Steel and Iron', published in the year 1722. The book explained how steel, wrought iron (an iron alloy with a very low percentage of Carbon - 0.08%) and cast iron could be distingished by the amout of Carbon they had.

Biological Use

Iron is an essential element of living beings. It is non-toxic to many forms of life. The average human contains around 4g of Iron. Most of the iron is placed within Red Blood Cells (Normally abbreviated as RBC) as haemoglobin - this substance which helps to transport Oxygen or Carbon Dioxide around us. The body couldn't do respiration - the process of producing energy from food and oxygen.

We need 10 to 18mg (milligrams) of Iron daily. The lack of Iron in our diets causes the condition of Anaemia.

I have explained anaemia in my previous blog post about the haematologist - Lucy Wills. But, I'll go over it again  Especially as this anaemia is a different type. Anaemia is the condition where the level of RBCs is below healthy levels. Anaemia causes a person to feel weak, grumpy or be more tired than what is normal for them. Headaches as well as problems with concentrating can also occur in anaemic patients. 


It's Uses

90% of all metals that is refined today is Iron. It is important - the most important of all metals. Though it can rusts easily.

Most of Iron is used to make steel. Steel is an alloy of Iron which is used to build structures. Steel is place into concrete to make refined concrete or formed into girders.
There are different types of steel which obviously has different uses.

• Carbon steel - an alloy of Iron with carbon 
• Alloy Steel  - an alloy with different elements such as Nickel, Chromium, Vanadium, tungstan and manganese. This type of steel are stronger and tougher than Carbon Steel. It is used to make bridges, electric pylon, bicycle chains and rifle barrel.
• Stainless Steel - this steel is resistant to corrosion. This type of steel contains the highest percent of Chromium. There are other metals which are added to the alloy to enchance the strength or workabilities such as Nickel, Molybdenum, Titanium and Copper. Stainless steel is used for cultery, surgical equpiment and jewellery.

There is also Cast Iron - This is a type of Iron which contains 3-5% Carbon. It was first made in China during the 5th Century from fighting and architecture. It is used in modern times for pipes, values and pumps. It is not as tough as steel presented. Though it is cheeper. 

• Magnets are made of Iron - or alloys of Iron
• Iron is used as a catalysts in a few procedures. The first is the harper process which produced ammonia. The second is the Fischer-Tropsch process which converts syngas (Hydrogen and Carbon monoxide) into fuels.