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iron (Fe), chemical element, metal of Group 8 (VIIIb) of the periodic table, the most-used and cheapest metal. atomic number26 atomic weight55.845 melting point1,538 °C (2,800 °F) boiling point3,000 °C (5,432 °F) specific gravity7.86 (20 °C) oxidation states+2, +3, +4, +6 electron configuration[Ar]3d64s2 Iron makes up 5 percent of Earth’s crust and is second in abundance to aluminum among the metals and fourth in abundance behind oxygen, silicon, and aluminum among the elements. Iron, which...