elezo

Elezo is the Swahili name for the chemical element iron, which has the symbol Fe and atomic number 26. It is a metal with widespread industrial use and is the most common element by mass in Earth’s outer core. In biology, iron is an essential micronutrient for many organisms, including humans.

Physically, iron is a ductile metal with a density of about 7.87 g/cm3. It melts at 1538°C and boils at 2862°C. At room temperature it is ferromagnetic, remaining magnetic up to its Curie point of about 770°C, above which it becomes paramagnetic. Iron reacts with oxygen and water to form oxides, the most familiar being rust (iron oxide).

Occurrence and production are dominated by iron ores such as hematite (Fe2O3) and magnetite (Fe3O4), along with siderite (FeCO3). Iron is extracted in blast furnaces using coke and limestone to produce pig iron, which is then refined to make steel and other alloys. The abundance of iron and its tunable properties via alloying underpin its central role in modern industry.

Uses and significance center on steel production. Iron and its alloys are fundamental to construction, transportation, machinery, tools, and many consumer goods. Stainless steel and other high-strength alloys extend iron’s applications into areas requiring corrosion resistance or specialized performance.

History notes that iron smelting emerged in the late Bronze Age and became central to the Iron Age, transforming technology and civilization. Environmentally, iron production involves mining, energy use, and emissions; iron itself is an essential nutrient at trace levels but pose hazards when inhaled as dust or encountered in mining and manufacturing processes.