ferrum

Ferrum is the Latin name for iron and, in modern chemistry, designates the chemical element with the symbol Fe and atomic number 26. It is a transition metal that plays a central role in industry and biology, and the symbol Fe derives from its Latin name.

Iron is a lustrous, malleable metal with a high melting point of 1538°C and a density of about 7.87 g/cm3. It is ferromagnetic at room temperature and readily forms alloys, most notably steel and cast iron. In oxidation, iron commonly exists in the +2 (ferrous) and +3 (ferric) states, and it forms a broad range of compounds including oxides, sulfides, and silicates.

Iron is abundant in the Earth's crust. Major ores include hematite (Fe2O3) and magnetite (Fe3O4). It is extracted by smelting with carbon in blast furnaces, producing pig iron, which is then refined into steel and other alloys. The metallurgical cycle from ore to finished metal underpins much of modern infrastructure and transportation.

Iron is essential for life. In vertebrates it is a core component of hemoglobin and myoglobin, enabling oxygen transport and storage. Beyond biology, iron is widely used in construction, machinery, transportation, pigments (iron oxide), and numerous industrial applications due to its mechanical properties and relative abundance.

Ferrum provides the root for the chemical symbol Fe and for terms such as ferric and ferrous in chemistry, as well as for ferrite, which refers to iron-containing compounds.