Reactivity & Chemical Bonding
Chemical Behavior & Oxidation States
Iron oxidizes in moist air to form porous hydrated iron oxide (rust) and exhibits common +2 and +3 oxidation states.
Z = 26Transition Metal
Launch 3D Atom & Orbitals LabIron
Fe
Standard Atomic Mass: 55.845 u
Period 4Group 8D-Block
Chemical Specimen/Fe
Concentric Electron Shells4 Energy Levels
n=1: 2e⁻→
n=2: 8e⁻→
n=3: 14e⁻→
n=4: 2e⁻
Scientific Monograph • Transition Metal
3D Atom SimulatorIron (Fe) Scientific Profile
Iron is the most abundant element on Earth by mass and the principal metal of modern engineering. In biology, it forms the active oxygen-binding center in hemoglobin.
Interactive Virtual Labs Available for Iron
3D Orbitals & Valence Lab
Simulate concentric quantum energy levels, observe valence electron spins, and examine live atomic clouds in full 3D.
Electronic Configuration Lab
Experiment with Aufbau subshell ordering, explore orbital occupancy, and analyze quantum configuration exceptions.
Electron Config
[Ar]3d⁶4s²
Electronegativity
1.83 Pauling
Year Discovered
Ancient
Orbital Shells
4 Principal Levels
Orbital Block
d-block orbital
Group / Period
G: 8 • P: 4
Etymology & Discovery History
Name OriginLatin 'ferrum'
Literal MeaningStrength / Firmness
Discovery HubSmelted since the early Iron Age (c. 1200 BCE)
Technological Utility
Industrial & Energy Applications
Forms 90% of all refined metals worldwide, used in structural steel, automotive chassis, and tools.
Biological Role
Biomedical Profile & Toxicity
Iron is critical for life, acting as the oxygen carrier in hemoglobin and the catalytic core in cytochrome enzymes.
Geochemistry & Abundance
Cosmic & Terrestrial Occurrence
Elements like Iron are synthesized through stellar nucleosynthesis and supernovae r-processes. On Earth, Iron is concentrated in specific ore deposits or synthesized in nuclear accelerators.
Frequently Asked Questions about Iron
Q
What are the key physical and atomic properties of Iron?
Iron (Fe) has an atomic number of 26 and a standard atomic mass of 55.845 u. It is positioned in Period 4, Group 8, in the D-block, and is classified within the Transition Metal category.
Q
What is the electron configuration of Iron?
The ground-state electron configuration of Iron is [Ar]3d⁶4s². Its 26 electrons are distributed across 4 principal energy levels (2, 8, 14, 2).
Q
Why does Iron exhibit an electron configuration exception?
Iron follows standard Aufbau principle orbital filling. Transition metals and heavy elements optimize their shell filling based on subshell exchange energy and electrostatic stability.
Q
What are the primary commercial and laboratory uses of Iron?
Forms 90% of all refined metals worldwide, used in structural steel, automotive chassis, and tools.