Hi my name is iron.
I have been used for making things such as, steam engines, railway tracks, ships and bridges. I am also an important part of steel making. During both World Wars in the 20th century me and my friend steel were used to make weapons, vehicles and warships.I am also used for engineering equipment, seaside piers and street architecture for example street lights, raillings .
Introduction:
Atomic Number: 26
Atomic Weight: 55.845
Melting Point: 1811 K (1538°C or 2800°F)
Boiling Point: 3134 K (2861°C or 5182°F)
Density: 7.874 grams per cubic centimeter
Phase at Room Temperature: Solid
Element Classification: Metal
Period Number: 4 Group Number: 8 Group Name: none
Archaeological evidence suggests that people have been using me for at least 5000 years. I am the cheapest and one of the most abundant of all metals, comprising nearly 5.6% of the earth's crust and nearly all of the earth's core. I am primarily obtained from the minerals hematite (Fe2O3) and magnetite (Fe3O4). The minerals taconite, limonite (FeO(OH)·nH2O) and siderite (FeCO3) are other important sources.
Huge amounts of me are used to make steel, an alloy of me and carbon. In addition to helping build the world around us.
I help to keep plants and animals alive. Plants use me in chlorophyll. I am used in photosynthesis.
Humans use me in hemoglobin molecules in blood to allow for the transport of oxygen to tissues throughout the body.
I am formed via fusion in stars that have sufficient mass. The sun and many other stars contain significant amounts of me. Iron sulfate (FeSO4) is used to treat the blood disease anemia.
By Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D., About.com Guide
http://chemistry.about.com/od/elementfacts/a/10-Iron-Facts.htm
