Mendeleev
Periodic table · chemistry · physics
Element story

Iron

Atomic number 26 means that every Iron nucleus contains 26 protons. That proton count is the element's identity: change it and you no longer have Iron.

Start with the nucleus

Atomic number 26 means that every Iron nucleus contains 26 protons. That proton count is the element's identity: change it and you no longer have Iron.

Iron (Fe) is chemical element 26. It belongs to the transition metals, and its reference state at room temperature is a solid. Those basic facts are a useful starting point for its chemistry and applications.

In practice, it turns up most often in metallurgy and steel, construction and biology.

See the atom

Conceptual visual: electron shells are a learning aid, not a literal picture of quantum orbitals.

What this number means

Atomic number 26 means that every Iron nucleus contains 26 protons. That proton count is the element's identity: change it and you no longer have Iron.

Keep exploring

→ Iron · Atomic structure · Periodic trends

26FeIron
Iron · Fe · Z = 26

Iron (Fe) is chemical element 26. It belongs to the transition metals, and its reference state at room temperature is a solid. Those basic facts are a useful starting point for its chemistry and applications.

Understanding the element

Iron (Fe) is chemical element 26. It belongs to the transition metals, and its reference state at room temperature is a solid. Those basic facts are a useful starting point for its chemistry and applications.

Where do we encounter it?

In practice, it turns up most often in metallurgy and steel, construction and biology.

What its position in the table tells us

Iron sits in period 4, group 8 and the D block. That location is useful because neighbouring elements often share trends in valence electrons, oxidation states and bonding behaviour.