Iron (III) oxide: ferric oxide, or red iron oxide (Fe2O3): This compound corresponds to iron rust.Iron has the ability to form variable oxidation states differing by steps of one and a very large coordination and organometallic chemistry. Iron, cobalt, and nickel have a number of similar properties and were once grouped together as group 8B. In addition, it lies at the top of group 8 (former group 8B). It is located in period 4 of the periodic table, situated between manganese and cobalt. In chemical terms, it is classified as a transition metal. Fresh iron surfaces appear lustrous silvery-gray, but oxidize in normal air to give hydrated iron oxides, commonly known as rust.

Like the other group 8 elements, iron exists in a wide range of oxidation states, −2 to +7, although +2 and +3 are the most common. The Latin name for iron is ferrum, which is the source of its atomic symbol, Fe atomic number 26 atomic weight 55.845 melting point about 1,535☌ boiling point about 2,750☌ and specific gravity of 7.87 at 20☌. Its abundance in rocky planets like Earth is due to its abundant production by fusion in high-mass stars, where it is the last element to be produced with release of energy before the violent collapse of a supernova, which scatters the iron into space. Lodestone is a form of magnetite that exhibits natural magnetic properties. Chromite is a chromium ore that contains iron. Iron pyrite (iron disulfide, FeS 2) is a crystalline gold-colored mineral known as fool’s gold. Other ores include siderite (ferrous carbonate, FeCO 3), taconite (an iron silicate), and magnetite (ferrous-ferric oxide, Fe 3O 4), which often occurs as a white sand. The principal ores of iron are hematite (ferric oxide, Fe 2O 3) and limonite (ferric oxide trihydrate, Fe 2O 3♳H 2O). It is rarely found uncombined in nature except in meteorites, but iron ores and minerals are abundant and widely distributed. Iron is found distributed in the soil in low concentrations and is found dissolved in ground water and the ocean to a limited extent. Iron is the fourth most abundant element in the earth’s crust, of which it constitutes about 5% by weight, and is believed to be the major component of the earth’s core. Iron is an abundant element in the universe it is found in many stars, including the sun. The ancient Hittites of Asia Minor, today’s Turkey, were the first to smelt iron from its ores around 1500 BC and this new, stronger, metal gave them economic and political power. They contain about 7.5% nickel, which indicates that they were of meteoric origin. Some have linked the iron in meteorites to a verse in the Quran(57:25) that says, “… and We sent down iron in which is incredible strength and many benefits for mankind.” Iron objects have been found in Egypt around 3500 BC. Because meteorites fall from the sky, some linguists have conjectured that the English word iron (Old English īsern), which has cognates in many northern and western European languages, derives from the Etruscan aisar, which means “the gods”. They prepared tips of spears, daggers, and ornaments from iron recovered from meteorites. The first signs of use of iron come from artifacts of the Sumerians and Egyptians dated to around 4000 B.C.E. It is the fourth most common element in the Earth’s crust.

It is by mass the most common element on Earth, forming much of Earth’s outer and inner core. It is a metal in the first transition series. Iron is a chemical element with symbol Fe and atomic number 26.

Fe element name