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Iron got its symbol from its Latin name, ferrum. It is the fourth most abundant
element and was first utilized by prehistoric man. The oldest iron artifacts, which are bits of
smelted iron, have been dated at 3000 B.C. The Egyptians knew how to mine, refine and work iron.
In the Old Testament, there are numerous references to iron mines, furnaces and iron objects. Unfortunately,
iron objects corrode, so evidence for ancient application is written, rather than direct evidence.
Iron is the most plentiful, least expensive, and most useful of all metals. It is described as a moderately
heavy, hard, malleable, and ductile metal. In its pure form, it is a silvery-white colour. One of the
most distinctive features is its ability to take and retain a magnetic field. Commercial iron is
obtained from ores such as hematite, Fe2O3, and magnetite, Fe3O4.
Both of these oxides can be broken down into iron and oxygen by heating them in a blast furnace.
Molten iron can dissolve carbon, thus producing an alloy better known as steel.
Commercial steels use carbon in proportions anywhere between 0.3 and 1.5%. The
higher the percentage of carbon, the harder the steel becomes. Steel is the most
common structural metal used from simple nuts and bolts to the framework of tall skyscrapers.
Some common compounds of iron include:
