Fe is the chemical symbol for which element?

Question: Fe is the chemical symbol for which element?

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Iron.

Fe is the chemical symbol for the element iron. This symbol comes from the Latin name for iron, “ferrum,” which is why the symbol is Fe rather than something starting with an ‘I’. Iron is the fourth most common element in the Earth’s crust and is essential to most life forms.

Iron is a transition metal, found in Group 8 and Period 4 of the periodic table. It has the atomic number 26. In its pure form, iron is a lustrous, silver-gray metal. It’s incredibly strong and yet also malleable and ductile, which means it can be drawn into wires.

It’s also highly reactive, readily forming compounds with oxygen in the presence of moisture, a process known as rusting. Iron’s reactivity also means it plays a vital role in many biological processes. For instance, it’s a key component of hemoglobin, the molecule in red blood cells that carries oxygen from our lungs to our body’s tissues.

Historically, iron has been used for thousands of years, dating back to ancient civilizations. Today, it’s an essential material in construction, transportation, and manufacturing, particularly in the production of steel.