View Full Term. By clicking sign up, you agree to receive emails from Corrosionpedia and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Iron is an abundant metallic element with the chemical symbol Fe and the atomic number of Iron is available in the form of iron oxide in iron ores and may also be known as a ferrous metal. It is a very reactive metal and prone to corrosion if not protected. Iron is extracted from iron ore, which exists in various colors including dark grey, deep purple, yellow and rusty red.
The types of iron ore include:. When any material containing iron comes in contact with oxygen and moisture it undergoes an aggressive chemical reaction to produce rust as the material corrodes. Subscribe to our newsletter to get expert advice and top insights on corrosion science, mitigation and prevention.
By: Della Anggabrata. Dictionary Dictionary Term of the Day. Corrosionpedia Terms. Iron is essential to almost living things, from micro-organisms to humans.
World production of new iron is over million tonnes a year, and recycled iron add other million tonnes. Economically workable reserves of iron ores exceed billion tonnes. Iron can be found in meat, whole meal products, potatoes and vegetables. The human body absorbs iron in animal products faster than iron in plant products. Iron is an essential part of hemoglobin; the red colouring agent of the blood that transports oxygen through our bodies.
Iron may cause conjunctivitis, choroiditis, and retinitis if it contacts and remains in the tissues. Chronic inhalation of excessive concentrations of iron oxide fumes or dusts may result in development of a benign pneumoconiosis, called siderosis, which is observable as an x-ray change.
No physical impairment of lung function has been associated with siderosis. Inhalation of excessive concentrations of iron oxide may enhance the risk of lung cancer development in workers exposed to pulmonary carcinogens.
LD Lethal dose A more common problem for humans is iron deficency, which leads to anaemia. Most of it is used to make steel — an alloy of iron and carbon — which is in turn used in manufacturing and civil engineering, for instance, to make reinforced concrete.
Stainless steel, which contains at least It is used in kitchen cutlery, appliances and cookware such as stainless steel pans and skillets. The addition of other elements can provide steel with other useful qualities. For instance, nickel increases its durability and makes it more resistant to heat and acids; manganese makes it more durable, whereas tungsten helps it maintain hardness at high temperatures, according to Jefferson Lab.
Archeologists estimate that people have been using iron for more than 5, years, according to Jefferson Lab. In fact, it turns out that some of the most ancient iron known to humans literally fell from the sky. In a study published in in the Journal of Archeological Science, researchers examined ancient Egyptian iron beads that date to around B. Iron is mostly obtained from minerals hematite and magnetite. In smaller degrees, it can also be obtained from the minerals taconite, limonite and siderite, according to Jefferson Lab.
Iron has four different allotropic forms, which means that it has four different structural forms in which atoms bond in different patterns, according to Los Alamos National Laboratory.
Those forms are called ferrites, known as alpha which is magnetic , beta, gamma and omega. Iron is an important nutrient in our diet. Iron deficiency, the most common nutritional deficiency, can cause anemia and fatigue that affects the ability to perform physical work in adults.
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