Järnet

Järnet is the definite form of the Swedish noun järn, meaning iron. In Swedish, järnet is used when referring to iron as a material or chemical element in a specific context, for example in scientific writing or everyday language about metal.

Iron is a chemical element with the symbol Fe and atomic number 26. It is a transition metal characterized by relatively high density, malleability when hot, and a tendency to form oxides. At room temperature iron is ferromagnetic, a property exploited in magnetic applications. The most common oxide form is iron(III) oxide, producing rust in the presence of water and oxygen. Iron occurs abundantly in the Earth's crust and is concentrated in ores such as hematite and magnetite.

Industrial production of iron begins with mining iron ore, followed by smelting in a blast furnace or direct reduction to produce iron metal, which is then refined and alloyed to make steel and cast iron. Carburizing heat treatment and alloying elements such as carbon, chromium, vanadium, and nickel tailor properties for structural, automotive, and tool applications.

Järnet is fundamental to modern civilization, used in construction, machinery, transportation, and consumer goods. In biology, iron is an essential micronutrient for many organisms, playing a crucial role in oxygen transport and enzyme function. The term järnet thus encompasses both the linguistic form in Swedish and the material metal iron.