# Iron

By [Iron](https://paragraph.com/@ironboy) · 2024-10-13

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Iron (chemical symbol - Fe, from Latin Ferrum) is a chemical element of Group 8 (according to the outdated classification - a side subgroup of Group 8, VIIIB) of the fourth period of the periodic system of chemical elements of D. I. Mendeleev with atomic number 26.

The simple substance iron is a malleable transition metal of silvery-white color with high chemical reactivity: iron corrodes rapidly in air at high temperatures or at high humidity. In pure oxygen, iron burns, and in its finely divided state it spontaneously combusts in air.

One of the most common metals in the Earth's crust: second only to aluminum. Iron proper is usually referred to as its alloys with a low content of impurities (up to 0.8%), which retain the softness and plasticity of pure metal. In practice, more often used alloys of iron with carbon: steel (up to 2.14 weight. % carbon) and cast iron (more than 2.14 weight. % carbon), as well as stainless (alloyed) steel with additions of alloying metals (chromium, manganese, vanadium, etc.).

The combination of specific properties of iron and its alloys, as well as its availability make it “metal No. 1” in terms of importance for humans.

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*Originally published on [Iron](https://paragraph.com/@ironboy/iron)*