Fe
Iron Symbol (Fe)
Iron is element 26 of the periodic table. Copy its symbol Fe and see its atomic weight, electron configuration and common compounds.
What does Fe mean?
Fe is the chemical symbol for iron, element number 26 in the periodic table. Iron is a transition metal in group 8, period 4. It is the main component of steel and the most widely used metal; its symbol Fe comes from the Latin ferrum, and it carries oxygen in haemoglobin.
Codes and properties
| Chemical symbol | Fe |
|---|---|
| Atomic number (Z) | 26 |
| Atomic weight (PubChem) | 55.84 |
| Group / period | 8 / 4 |
| Element category | transition metal |
| Electron configuration | [Ar]4s² 3d⁶ |
| State at 20 °C | Solid |
| Oxidation states | +3, +2 |
| Electronegativity (Pauling) | 1.83 |
| Melting point | 1811 K (1537.85 °C) |
| Boiling point | 3134 K (2860.85 °C) |
| Density | 7.874 g/cm³ |
| Discovered | Known since ancient times |
| Common compounds | Fe₂O₃, FeSO₄, FeCl₃ |
How to type Fe
- Plain text: type
Fe— element symbols are ordinary Latin letters, with the first letter capitalised and the second lowercase. - Subscripts in formulas: use Unicode subscript digits (₀₁₂₃₄₅₆₇₈₉) for formulas such as Fe₂O₃ — copy them from the chemistry keyboard.
- LaTeX: write
\mathrm{Fe}in math mode, or use the mhchem package:\ce{Fe}. - HTML:
Fe; for subscripts use<sub>, e.g.H<sub>2</sub>O.
Frequently asked questions
What is the chemical symbol for iron?
The chemical symbol for iron is Fe.
What is the atomic number of iron?
Iron has atomic number 26, meaning each atom has 26 protons.
What is the electron configuration of iron?
The ground-state electron configuration of iron is [Ar]4s² 3d⁶.
Related symbols
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Reference: Iron on PubChem (NIH)