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Fe

Iron

Iron is a chemical element with the symbol Fe and atomic number 26. It has a standard atomic weight of 55.845, sits in period 4 and group 8, and is classified as a transition metal.

Properties

SymbolFe
Atomic number26
Standard atomic weight55.845
CategoryTransition metal
Group8
Period4
Electron configuration[Ar] 3d6 4s2
Outer-shell electrons2

The figure of 55.845 is a standard atomic weight.

Compounds containing iron

8 of the compounds in this reference contain Fe, listed by the fraction of their mass it makes up.

CompoundFormulaAtoms% by mass
hematiteFe2O3269.9%
iron oxideFeO2163.6%
pyriteFeS2146.6%
iron sulfateFeO4S136.8%
iron chlorideCl3Fe134.4%
potassium ferricyanideC6FeK3N6117.0%
potassium ferrocyanideC6FeK4N6115.2%
hemeC34H32FeN4O419.1%

Calculate with iron

Group 8

Atomic weights are the IUPAC 2021 standard values, abridged to the conventional five significant figures. Group, period, category and electron configuration are derived from the atomic number rather than stored, so they cannot drift out of step with it.