Hazard Symbols:Dust and fine particles suspended in air are flammable and an explosion risk. TLV: (as oxide fume) 5 mg/m3; for soluble salts (as iron) 1 mg/m3. Biochemistry: Iron is a constituent of hemoglobin and is essential to plant and animal life, an important factor in cellular oxidation mechanism.
Properties:Silvery-white metal, relatively soft when pure. Traces of impurities have profound effect on physical props (steels). Rapidly oxidized, especially in damp air (rust). Attacked by dil acids. Passivated by HNO3. From decomposition of iron pentacarbonyl: dark-gray powder. From electrodeposition: lusterless, gray-black powder. From chemical reduction: gray-black powder. Mp: 1535°, bp: 27° @ 3000 mm.
Source:Hematite, limonite, magnetite, siderite, also taconite (low-grade 25–30% iron).
Occurrence:Minnesota (Mesabi), Alabama, Labrador, Yukon, Europe, South America.