The first products of iron and its alloys wereThey were found during excavations and date back to around 4 millennium BC. That is, even the ancient Egyptians and Sumerians used the meteorite deposits of this substance to make jewelry and household items, as well as weapons.
Today, iron compounds of various types, andalso pure metal - these are the most common and used substances. No wonder the twentieth century was considered iron. After all, before the advent and wide distribution of plastic and related materials, this connection was of decisive importance for man. What this element is and what substances it forms, we will consider in this article.
If we consider the structure of an atom, we must first of all indicate its locations in the periodic table.
The chemical element of iron also has about 20 different isotopes that are not distinguished by stability. The possible oxidation states a given atom can exhibit:
Important is not only the element itself, but also its various compounds and alloys.
As a simple substance, iron physical propertieshas a pronounced metallism. That is, it is a silvery white with a gray hue of metal, which has a high degree of ductility and plasticity and a high melting and boiling point. If we consider the characteristics in more detail, then:
Depending on the conditions and different temperatures, there are several modifications that make up iron. Their physical properties differ from the fact that the crystal lattices differ.
All modifications have different types of crystal lattice structure, and also differ in magnetic properties.
As mentioned above, a simple iron substanceexhibits average chemical activity. However, in a finely dispersed state, it is capable of self-igniting in air, and in pure oxygen, the metal itself burns.
Corrosivity is high, so alloys of this substance are coated with doping compounds. Iron is able to interact with:
It is obvious that in manifesting such activity, metalit is able to form various compounds, diverse and polar in properties. This is what happens. Iron and its compounds are extremely diverse and find application in the most diverse branches of science, technology, and industrial activity of man.
Natural iron compounds are fairly commonoften, because it is the second most common element on our planet after aluminum. In this pure metal is extremely rare, in the composition of meteorites, which speaks of its large clusters in space. The main mass is contained in the composition of ores, rocks and minerals.
If we talk about the percentage content of the element in question in nature, the following figures can be cited.
The most common iron compounds form the following minerals:
This is not a complete list, because theirreally very much. In addition, various alloys that are created by man are widely distributed. These are also such compounds of iron, without which it is difficult to imagine the modern life of people. There are two main types:
Also, iron is a valuable additive in the composition of many nickel alloys.
These include those in which the oxidation state of the forming element is +2. They are quite numerous, because they include:
Formulas of chemical compounds in which iron exhibits this degree of oxidation are individual for each class. Consider the most important and common ones.
Practical value among the indicated substanceshave several connections. First, iron (II) chloride. This is the main supplier of ions to the human body, anemic patient. When such an ailment is diagnosed in a patient, then complex preparations based on the compound in question are prescribed for it. This is how iron deficiency is replenished in the body.
Secondly, iron sulfate, that is, sulfateiron (II), together with copper is used to destroy agricultural pests in crops. The method proves its effectiveness not for the first ten years, therefore it is very appreciated by gardeners and truck farmers.
This compound, which is the crystal hydrate of ferrous sulfate and ammonium. Its formula is written as FeSO4* (NH4)2CO4* 6H2O. One of the compounds of iron (II), which has been widely used in practice. The main areas of human use are as follows.
There are other areas in which this substance finds application. Its name it received in honor of a German chemist who first discovered the manifested properties.
Properties of iron compounds in which itshows a degree of oxidation +3, somewhat different from those considered above. Thus, the nature of the corresponding oxide and hydroxide is no longer basic, but pronounced amphoteric. Let's describe the main substances.
Among the examples given, from a practical point of view, such an crystalline hydrate as FeCL3 *6X2O, or iron (III) hexahydrochloride. It is used in medicine to stop bleeding and replenish iron ions in the body with anemia.
Nine-iron ferric sulfate (III) is used to purify drinking water, as it behaves like a coagulant.
Formulas of chemical compounds of iron, where it exhibits a special degree of oxidation +6, can be written as follows:
They all have a common name - ferrates - andhave similar properties (strong reducing agents). They are also capable of disinfecting and have a bactericidal effect. This allows them to be used for treatment of drinking water on an industrial scale.
Very important in analytical chemistry and not onlyare special substances. Such that are formed in aqueous solutions of salts. These are complex iron compounds. The most popular and well-studied ones are as follows.
Iron and its compounds, as we have already seen,have great practical importance in the economic life of man. However, in addition, his biological role in the body is no less great, even on the contrary.
There is one very important organica compound, a protein, into which this element belongs. This is hemoglobin. It is thanks to him that oxygen is transported and a uniform and timely gas exchange is carried out. Therefore, the role of iron in the vital process of breathing is simply enormous.
In total, about 4 grams of iron are contained within the human body, which must be constantly replenished by consuming food.