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Element 26 - Iron (Fe)
From
iren
its Old English name; symbol Fe from its Latin name,
ferrum
; first utilized by prehistoric man. The fourth most abundant element and the cheapest metal, iron is the basic ingredient of all steel. Making up part of the compound hemoglobin, it carries oxygen in the bloodstream.
Properties
Atomic Number
:
26
Atomic Weight
:
55.847
Electron Configuration
(at ground state):
1s
2
2s
2
2p
6
3s
2
3p
6
3d
6
4s
2
Oxidation States
(Bold most stable):
+2,
+3
, +6
Boiling Point
(K):
3023
Melting Point (K):
1808
Density
(at 300K -- g/cm
3
):
7.874
Atomic Volume (at 300K -- cm
3
/mol)
7.10
Number of stable
isotopes
:
4
Mass Number
(Bold naturally occurring) --
Half-Life
--
Disintigration Type
:
59 -- 44.6 days --
beta particle
(
electron
) emission
Covalent Radius (Å):
1.17
Atomic Radius (Å):
1.26
First
Ionization Potential
(V):
7.870
Electronegativity
(Pauling's):
1.83
Specific Heat
Capacity (at 300K -- J g
-1
K
-1
):
0.449
Heat of Vaporization (kJ/mol):
349.5
Heat of Fusion (kJ/mol):
13.8
Electrical Conductivity (at 293K for polycrystalline material -- 10
6
-1
cm
-1
):
11.2
Thermal Conductivity (at 300K -- W m
-1
K
-1
):
80.2
Crystal Structure:
Cubic, body centered
Acid
-
Base
Properties:
Amphoteric