The Chemical Element Iron

What is Iron?

Iron is a metallic chemical element that makes up about 5% of Earth's crust. This lustrous, workable metal is widely used in industry. Although naturally magnetic, iron can be demagnetised.

This is possible because iron-rich particles in rocks align with Earth’s magnetic field as they form, preserving a record of past magnetic changes.

Pure iron is a soft metal that conducts heat and electricity. It's often alloyed with other chemical elements, particularly carbon, to improve strength.

Iron reacts to moisture in the air to form an oxide known as rust.  

This common chemical element is essential for the health of humans, animals, and plants.

Most of the iron in our bodies is stored in the blood. Iron-rich cells carry oxygen around the body from our lungs. The iron gives blood its deep red colour.

The red, orange, and yellow present in some soils and rocks come mostly from iron oxides. These oxides are also responsible for the fine red dust present on Mars.

The inner core of the Earth is believed to be a solid iron-nickel alloy. Meteorites composed of iron and nickel are believed to be among the earliest solid materials to have formed in the early solar system.

In industry, almost all iron ore is used in the production of steel. One of the principal ores of iron is hematite, another is goethite.

Article Photos

The iron meteorite at the top of our article is courtesy of Ron Wolf.

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Hematite and goethite: Courtesy of Stan Celestian.