Iron

==//Courtney Custis November 15, 2009 //==

Element Iron [Fe]
==Name: **Iron** Symbol: Fe Atomic Number: 26 Atomic Mass: 55.845 amu Melting Point: 1535.0 °C (1808.15 K, 2795.0 °F) Boiling Point: 2750.0 °C (3023.15 K, 4982.0 °F) Number of Protons/Electrons: 26 Number of Neutrons: 30 Classification: Transition Metal Crystal Structure: Cubic Color: Silvery ==

==Facts - Iron has been known since prehistoric times. It makes up 5% of the Earth's crust and is second in abundance to aluminum among the metals and fourth in abundance behind oxygen, silicon, and aluminum elements. Iron is also found in the sun and many types of stars, i ron is obtained from its ores by fusing to drive off the oxygen, sulphur, and impurities. == == Iron metal is grayish in appearance and is very ductile. Small amounts of carbon will significantly alter the properties of iron. Iron containing 0.15% of chemically combined carbon is termed ‘steel’. It is very reactive chemically (it is attacked by most acids), corrodes readily which is accelerated by the presence of moist air or elevated temperatures. ==

Iron in its pure state is allotropic, existing as a solid in two different crystal forms. These forms and occurrence are outlined below: · From subzero to 700°C iron has a body centred cubic crystal structure, identified as alpha ( a ) iron, and is magnetic. · From 700°C to 928°C iron changes from alpha ( a ) iron to beta ( b ) iron, the crystal structure remains unchanged but it loses its magnetism. · From 928°C to 1530°C iron changes to a face centred cubic crystal structure identified as gamma ( g ) iron. · From 1530°C upwards the structure changes back to body centred cubic crystal structure, identified as delta ( d ) iron. Common iron is a mixture of four isotopes, while ten other isotopes are known to exist.

First Energy Level: 2 Second Energy Level: 8 Third Energy Level: 14 Fourth Energy Level: 2
= Isotopes = Half Life = =
 * Fe-528.3 hours
 * Fe-54Stable
 * Fe-552.7 years
 * Fe-56Stable
 * Fe-57Stable
 * Fe-58Stable
 * Fe-5954.5 days
 * Fe-601500000.0 years