Iron (Fe)
A strong metal used to make steel for bridges and buildings.
Iron facts
- Symbol
- Fe
- Atomic number
- 26
- Atomic mass
- 55.845
- Family
- Transition metals
- Period
- 4
- Group
- 8
Famous reactions with iron
- Super strong steel! Iron meets CarbonSteel (iron with a little carbon) · When melted together · Try it
- Slowly... Iron turns to RustIron(III) oxide (rust) 4Fe + 3O₂ → 2Fe₂O₃ · Slowly, when iron is damp · Try it
- Glowing hot! Iron meets SulfurIron(II) sulfide Fe + S → FeS · When heated · Try it
- Iron says no! Iron meets MercuryNothing: iron and mercury do not mix · Nothing happens, even when heated · Try it
What does iron react with?
Iron makes a new substance with 12 other elements and chemicals in our lab:
- Iron + BoronIron boride Fe + B → FeB · Only in a very hot furnace · Try it
- Iron + FluorineIron(III) fluoride 2Fe + 3F₂ → 2FeF₃ · At room temperature · Try it
- Iron + SiliconIron silicide Fe + Si → FeSi · Only in a very hot furnace · Try it
- Iron + PhosphorusIron phosphide 2Fe + P → Fe₂P · When heated · Try it
- Iron + ChlorineIron(III) chloride 2Fe + 3Cl₂ → 2FeCl₃ · When heated · Try it
- Iron + ArsenicIron arsenide Fe + As → FeAs · When heated · Try it
- Iron + SeleniumIron(II) selenide Fe + Se → FeSe · When heated · Try it
- Iron + BromineIron(III) bromide 2Fe + 3Br₂ → 2FeBr₃ · When heated · Try it
- Iron + TelluriumIron(II) telluride Fe + Te → FeTe · When heated · Try it
- Iron + IodineIron(II) iodide Fe + I₂ → FeI₂ · When heated · Try it
- Iron + WaterIron(II,III) oxide (magnetite) + hydrogen gas 3Fe + 4H₂O → Fe₃O₄ + 4H₂ · Only with hot steam · Try it
- Iron + Hydrochloric AcidIron(II) chloride + hydrogen gas Fe + 2HCl → FeCl₂ + H₂ · At room temperature · Try it
It also blends into a mixture, like an alloy, with 73 other metals when melted together.
Nothing happens when it's simply mixed with 9 of the others. 21 pairings have never been tried, because not enough atoms have ever existed.