Iron

Iron comes from the Latin word ferrum. From ferrum its symbol became Fe. The atomic number of iron is 26, and its atomic weight is 55.845. Iron is a magnetic, bendable, shiny white metallic element. Pure iron has a hardness that ranges from 4 to 5. It is soft and ductile. Iron can be easily magnetized at ordinary temperatures and at 790°C the magnetic property disappears. Pure iron melts at about 1535°C, boils at 2750°C, and has a specific …

…to prevent oxidation, also known as rust. Iron is an essential part of a healthy diet. Iron compounds are employed for medicinal purposes in the treatment of anemia, when the amount of hemoglobin or the number of red blood corpuscles in the blood is lowered. Iron is a component of the complex compound in red blood cells called hemoglobin. This substance is responsible for carrying oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body.