Iron

01 / A closer look

Meet Iron

Iron has atomic number 26: every atom of this element contains 26 protons. It belongs to period 4, group 8 of the periodic table.

In a neutral atom, the number of electrons equals the number of protons. Isotopes of this element share the same atomic number but have different neutron counts.

02 / Physical properties

Melting point

1811 K

Boiling point

3134 K

Density

7.87 g/cm³

Atomic weight

55.845 ± 0.002

Melting points, boiling points and densities follow RSC fact boxes. Density is referenced to room temperature; consult the source for pressure and allotrope details. These are reference values, not a claim that every value was experimentally measured. Atomic weights follow CIAAW.

Physical-property source: Royal Society of Chemistry ↗ · Reviewed 24 September 2026

Standard atomic weights follow CIAAW 2024 (abridged). Brackets show an isotope mass number from IUPAC 2022, not a standard atomic weight.

03 / Atomic structure

Atomic structure

Electron configuration

[Ar]4s2 3d6

Oxidation states

+3, +2

Electronegativity · Pauling

1.83

First ionisation energy

7.902 eV

Atomic radius

194 pm

04 / Where it is found

Where it is found

Hematite and magnetite are important iron ores.

Production and export figures depend on the commodity and reporting year. No comparable country quantities have been included for this element in this edition.