Pay the Iron Price Trivia Quiz

Answer: Fe

Fe, the symbol for iron, comes from the Latin term for this metal, 'ferrum'. The Latin word can also refer to any tool made of iron, or to a sword.

Iron's atomic number is 26, its atomic weight is 55.847 (26 protons, 30 neutrons and 26 electrons).

Answer: 14 - Silicon (Si)

At atomic number 14, silicon (Si) is a metalloid, with properties of both metals and nonmetals. It falls within group 14, along with carbon, germanium, tin, lead, and flerovium.

Iron is often considered the prototype of all of the transition metals, not just those in Group 8. This is largely due to its abundance and prevalence in mankind's history of metalworking. Transition metals are known by their "ability to form variable oxidation states differing by steps of one and a very large coordination and organometallic chemistry" (quote from Wikipedia).

Answer: 2, 8, 14, 2

The full electron configuration for iron is: 1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^6 3d^6 4s^2, or in its short form: [Ar] 3d^6 4s^2 (referring to Argon as the last nonreactive element before iron on the Periodic Table).

How does that relate to the 2, 8, 14, 2 from the answer?

The first shell can hold two electrons (1s^2)
The second shell can hold eight electrons (2s^2 and 2p^6)
The third shell can hold 18 electrons (3s^2 and 3p^6 and 3d^10)
The fourth shell can hold 32 electrons (4s^2 and 4p^6 and 4d^10 and 4f^14)

So, iron fills the first two shells completely, then leaves four out of the third shell (giving the 3d^6), and having two in the fourth shell (4s^2).

The other options were for the following elements:

Sulfur: 2, 8, 6
Copper: 2, 8, 18, 1
Silver: 2, 8, 18, 18, 1

Answer: 1,538 Celsius (2,800 Fahrenheit)

Iron's melting point is 1,538 degrees Celsius (2,800 degrees Fahrenheit), and its boiling point is 2,861 degrees Celsius (5,182 Fahrenheit).

The other melting point options given were:

Lead: 163 C (327 F)
Zinc: 419 C (787 F)
Aluminum: 659 C (1,218 F)

Answer: Rust

Iron(III) oxide, also known as ferric oxide has the formula Fe2O3, and is more commonly known as rust. Rusting is the corrosion of iron and its alloys, and while it is primarily related to the aforementioned compound, the term has come to be broader in its application, referring to many varieties of corrosion.

There are many other iron oxides, including a couple you have probably heard of, like magnetite (Fe3O4) or hematite (α-Fe2O3). There are, in fact, sixteen known iron oxides and oxyhydroxides.

Answer: Chromium

Stainless steel is also known as inox steel, from the term inoxidizable. There must be at least 10.5% chromium content to qualify as stainless steel, and the resultant alloy becomes highly resistant to corrosion. Because of this property, stainless steel is commonly used for kitchen utensils and cookware, surgical tools, and storage tanks, to name but a few.

Answer: Ferromagnetic

As you can see by the 'ferro' part of 'ferromagnetic', the property of being able to be magnetized (and to stay magnetized) is closely tied to iron. While there are other types of magnetic fields that substances respond to (paramagnetism, diamagnetism, and antiferromagnetism), none of them are nearly as strong as ferromagnetism.

Ferromagnetism is very important to our world, as it is the basis of such modernities as electromagnets, electric motors, and magnetic storage devices.

Answer: 1200 BC to 1 BC

Iron working was introduced into Eastern Europe around the 11th century BC and spread westward over time. The result is seen in the quality and craftsmanship of metal-made items, especially armour and weaponry. The Roman Empire was inherently linked to the Iron Age, and their ability to craft weapons of quality was one of the factors supporting Roman dominance.

Answer: China

Out of approximately 3,320,000,000 metric tonnes, China produced 1,380,000,000 tonnes. The second on the list was Australia with 824,000,000 tonnes, and then Brazil at 428,000,000 tonnes.

China also topped the list of pig iron production and steel production.

Answer: Anemia

There are different types of anemia, but when you don't have enough iron in your system, it is called 'iron-deficiency anemia' (appropriately enough). Signs and symptoms include pallor, fatigue, lightheadedness, and weakness.

Conversely, too much iron in the system (called hemochromatosis) can adversely affect the liver, heart, or endocrine glands.