How many electrons does iron have? Everything you need to know about iron

How many electrons does iron have? Everything you need to know about iron

iron is the 26th element in the periodic table of chemical elements. Its chemical symbol is Fe, which is derived from the Latin "Ferrum". Iron is widely found in nature and is the fourth highest element in the earth's crust. It is also one of the most important metals in industry and life. This paper will analyze the relevant knowledge of iron in detail from the three aspects of iron's electronic structure, chemical properties and its application in industry.

1. ON ELECTRONIC STRUCTURE AND ATOMIC PROPERTIES OF IRON

Iron has an atomic number of 26, which means that there are 26 protons in an iron nucleus. According to the basic principles of atomic structure, iron also has 26 electrons outside the nucleus, which run around the nucleus in different energy levels and orbits. The electron arrangement of iron follows Pauli's incompatibility principle and Hund's rule, and its ground state electron arrangement is [Ar] 3d + 4s ² 4p. This means that the electron distribution of the iron atom is: the inner layer is filled with noble gas ([Ar]), followed by 6 electrons in the 3d orbital, 2 electrons in the 4s orbital, and 0 electrons in the 4p orbital.

The electronic structure of iron determines many of its chemical properties. For example, iron atoms tend to lose electrons in 4s orbitals when they lose electrons, forming Fe² or Fe³ + ions. This ability to lose electrons allows iron to exhibit good reducibility and act as a reducing agent in many chemical reactions. The 3d orbital electrons of iron participate in the formation of many chemical bonds, making it polyvalent in the compound.

2. Iron Oxidation States and Chemical Properties

Iron can exhibit a variety of oxidation states in the compound, the most common being the 2 and 3 valence states. Fe² (ferrous ion) and Fe³ (ferric ion) are the most common forms of iron found in nature and industry. The multivalency of iron enables it to form a variety of compounds, such as iron oxide (Fe₂), iron sulfide (FeS), ferric chloride (FeCl3), etc. These compounds have a wide range of applications in industry, chemistry and materials science.

The chemical properties of iron are also reflected in its reactions with other elements. For example, iron reacts with oxygen to form iron oxide, reacts with sulfur to form ferrous or iron sulfide, and reacts with water to form iron hydroxide. Iron can also react with other non-metallic elements such as carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, etc. to form various iron compounds. These chemical properties of iron are closely related to its electronic structure, especially the participation of 3d orbital electrons, which makes it highly flexible in chemical reactions.

3. iron in industrial applications

Iron is one of the most important metals in industry, and its application has penetrated into almost every field of modern industry. Here are some of the main applications of iron in industry:

1. Iron and steel production: Iron is the main component of the production of steel, steel is iron and other elements (such as carbon, manganese, silicon, etc.) alloy. Because of its high strength, durability and plasticity, steel is widely used in construction, machinery, transportation and other fields.

2. Catalysts: Iron-based catalysts have important applications in the chemical industry. For example, iron-based catalysts are used in processes such as ammonia synthesis, petroleum refining, and catalytic cracking. The electronic structure of iron allows it to provide suitable active sites to facilitate chemical reactions.

3. Magnetic materials: Iron has ferromagnetism and is the basis for manufacturing permanent magnetic materials and electromagnetic materials. Ferromagnetic materials are widely used in motors, generators, transformers, sensors and other fields.

4. New energy materials: Iron also has important applications in the field of new energy. For example, iron-based materials are used for positive or negative electrode materials of lithium ion batteries, iron-based catalysts are used for biomass conversion and carbon dioxide fixation, etc.

4. summary

As the 26th element, iron has 26 electrons, and its electronic structure determines its rich chemical properties and wide application fields. The multivalent, reductive and magnetic properties of iron make it play an important role in industry. From steel production to new energy materials, iron is used almost everywhere. In the future, with the progress of science and technology, more potential applications of iron will be developed, and its importance in industry will be further enhanced.

Iron is not only a common element in nature, but also an important cornerstone of human industrial civilization. Understanding the electronic structure, chemical properties and applications of iron is of great significance for us to make better use of iron resources and promote industrial development.