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While iron is the most abundant element on Earth, most of this iron is concentrated in the inner and outer cores. [43] [44] The fraction of iron that is in Earth's crust only amounts to about 5% of the overall mass of the crust and is thus only the fourth most abundant element in that layer (after oxygen, silicon, and aluminium). [45]
Iron shows the characteristic chemical properties of the transition metals, namely the ability to form variable oxidation states differing by steps of one and a very large coordination and organometallic chemistry: indeed, it was the discovery of an iron compound, ferrocene, that revolutionalized the latter field in the 1950s. [2]
The chemical elements can be broadly divided into metals, metalloids, and nonmetals according to their shared physical and chemical properties.All elemental metals have a shiny appearance (at least when freshly polished); are good conductors of heat and electricity; form alloys with other metallic elements; and have at least one basic oxide.
Iron is a part of some hormones as well. A lack of iron in the body can cause iron deficiency anemia, and an excess of iron in the body can be toxic. [7] Some ruthenium-containing molecules may be used to fight cancer. [8] Normally, however, ruthenium plays no role in the human body. [3] Both osmium and hassium have no known biological roles ...
Low-pressure phase diagram of pure iron. BCC is body centered cubic and FCC is face-centered cubic. Iron-carbon eutectic phase diagram, showing various forms of Fe x C y substances. Iron allotropes, showing the differences in structure. The alpha iron (α-Fe) is a body-centered cubic (BCC) and the gamma iron (γ-Fe) is a face-centered cubic (FCC).
As quoted in an online version of: David R. Lide (ed), CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 84th Edition.CRC Press. Boca Raton, Florida, 2003; Section 4, Properties of the Elements and Inorganic Compounds; Physical Properties of the Rare Earth Metals
Thus, it is relatively easy to predict the chemical properties of an element if one knows the properties of the elements around it. [9] Today, 118 elements are known, the first 94 of which are known to occur naturally on Earth at present. [10] [a] The remaining 24, americium to oganesson (95–118), occur only when synthesized in laboratories.
Iron-cementite meta-stable diagram. Cast iron's properties are changed by adding various alloying elements, or alloyants. Next to carbon, silicon is the most important alloyant because it forces carbon out of solution. A low percentage of silicon allows carbon to remain in solution, forming iron carbide and producing white cast iron.