ferro

Ferro is the word for iron in Italian and Portuguese, and it appears in various technical terms and proper names in English as a reference to iron-containing materials. In Spanish, the word for iron is hierro, so ferro is more common in Romance-language contexts other than Spanish.

Iron is chemical element Fe, with atomic number 26. It is a metal that is abundant in Earth's crust and core. In pure form it is a lustrous, malleable metal that is ferromagnetic at room temperature. Its standard melting point is 1538°C and its boiling point is 2862°C. Iron readily corrodes in moist air, forming rust (iron oxides) unless protected by coatings or alloying.

Iron occurs primarily in the form of oxides and silicates in natural ore deposits. Key ore minerals include hematite (Fe2O3) and magnetite (Fe3O4). Industrial production centers on extracting iron from ore in blast furnaces or direct reduction plants, typically using coke as a fuel and reducing agent, and producing pig iron that can be refined into steel or cast iron.

Uses and alloys: The dominant use of iron is in steel production, where alloying elements such as carbon, chromium, nickel, vanadium, and others tailor properties like strength and hardness. Ferroalloys, such as ferrochrome and ferrosilicon, are added to modify composition. Iron and its alloys underpin construction, transportation, machinery, and many consumer goods.

Etymology and prefix usage: The root ferr- from Latin ferrum is related to iron, and the combining form ferro- appears in various scientific terms (for example, ferrocyanide, ferromagnetism, ferroalloys) to denote iron-containing compounds or properties. Iron has played a central role in technology and culture, including the Iron Age and modern steel industries.