Iron

From Anvita Health Wiki

Contents 1 Introduction 2 Occurrence 3 Characteristics 4 Uses 5 More General Terms 6 Additional Terms 7 Internet Database 8 References

Introduction

• From the Anglo-Saxon iron. Fe comes from the Latin for iron, ferrum. Use of iron dates back to prehistoric times.

Occurrence

• composes 5.6% of the earth's crust
• it is thought that the core or the earth is mostly molten iron
• occurs native in meteorites & combined in most igneous rocks

Characteristics

• a heavy malleable ductile magnetic reddish-brown metallic element
• pure iron readily rusts in moist air

Uses

• component of many proteins, including hemoglobin
• steel is an alloy or iron & carbon; adding additional elements gives steel different properties

More General Terms

• trace element
• metal

Additional Terms

• Fe+2/Fe+3 (bioavailable iron)
• periodic table

Internet Database

PubChem: 23925

References

Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary, Miriam- Webster Inc. Springfield, MA 1990

iron [Fe]