Sunday, September 6, 2020

Iron

Iron is abundantly available metal under earth’s crust. Its symbol is Fe, atomic number is 26 and atomic weight is 56. In Latin language iron is called ferrum. Electronic configuration if iron is as below.

Shell

K

L

M

N

Number of electrons

2

8

14

2

Orbitals

1s2

2s22p6

3s23p63d6

4s2

 Position of Iron in periodic table: Iron has 2 electrons of s orbital of valence shell. Generally such metal would be placed on group IIA but it is placed on group VIII as it is a transitional element. Its valency is 2 or 3. It can make ferrous ion(Fe++) by donating 2 electrons or ferric ion(Fe+++) by giving 3 electrons to other elements or radical.

Occurrence of iron: as it a reactive element it is rarely found in free state but abundantly on compound states or in the form of ores. Major ores of iron are hematite (Fe2O3), magnetite (Fe3O4), iron pyrite (Fes2) etc and the major source of iron is hematite. Hematite has about 72.5% of iron and most of the iron is produced from this ore.

Physical properties of iron:

  • Iron is a shiny ash white colored metal
  • It is good conductor of heat and electricity
  • Its specific gravity is 7.86
  • Its melting point is about 1500oC and boiling point is about 2500oC.
  • It is strong magnetic material(Ferromagnetic substance)
  • On heating to 770oC temperature it looses its magnetic property
  • It is malleable and ductile

Uses of iron:

  • It is used to make construction materials like Rods, Pipes, wire, nails etc
  • It is used to make railway strip
  • It is used to make almost all weapons
  • It is used to make stainless steel
  • It is used to make agricultural tools
  • It is used to make utensils
  • It is used as catalyst on many chemical reactions
  • Used to make engine and body of vehicles

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