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The chemical name of Iron is Iron itself, and its chemical symbol is Fe. To understand the reason behind this name, let’s break it down step by step.
What is a Chemical Name?
A chemical name is the official scientific name given to a substance based on its chemical structure or composition. For example:
- The chemical name of common salt is Sodium Chloride (NaCl).
- The chemical name of water is Dihydrogen Monoxide (H₂O).
What is the Chemical Name of Iron?
Iron is an element, not a compound. That means it is made of only one type of atom. Because of this, it does not have a long or complex chemical name like some compounds do. The chemical name of the element Iron is simply Iron. Its chemical symbol is Fe, which comes from the Latin word “Ferrum” (that’s why iron is also called ferrous in many compounds).
Why is the Symbol “Fe” and Not “Ir”?
The chemical symbol of Iron is Fe because:
- The modern name is Iron, but the old Latin name of Iron is Ferrum. Scientists use Latin names for many elements while assigning symbols.
- So, Fe = Ferrum = Iron.
Where is Iron on the Periodic Table?
Here is the basic information of Iron as per the periodic table:
- Symbol: Fe
- Atomic Number: 26
- Group: 8
- Period: 4
- Category: Transition Metal
Iron is a transition metal, which means it is strong, conducts electricity well, and often forms coloured compounds.
What are the uses of Iron?
Iron is one of the most useful and common metals in the world. This metal can be found while:
- Construction: buildings, bridges, steel
- Transportation: cars, trains, ships
- Body: Iron is also in your blood as it helps carry oxygen.
So, in short, the chemical name of Iron is Iron. Its symbol is Fe, taken from the Latin name Ferrum. It’s an element, not a compound, so it keeps its simple name.
Common Doubts of Chemistry:
