Iron

Iron (Fe) is a silvery-gray transition metal that rusts when exposed to oxygen and water. Much of Earth's core is iron, but in the crust it usually occurs in compounds. Important ores include hematite and magnetite, both iron oxides. In blast furnaces, carbon monoxide made from coke, a processed form of coal, removes oxygen from these ores to release the metal. Most iron is used to make steel, an alloy of iron with a small amount of carbon and sometimes other elements. Steel provides strength for buildings, vehicles, and machinery. Iron also has a vital role inside you: iron ions in hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells, help carry oxygen around your body.