Iron

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Iron
Fe
In situ availability: abundant
Necessity: essential
Atomic number: 26
Atomic mass: 55.845
group: 8
period: 4
normal phase: Solid
series: Transition Metals
density: 7.86 g/cm3
melting point: 1811K,
1538°C,
2800°F
boiling point: 3134K,
2861°C,
5182°F
N/AN/AN/A
Mn ← Fe → Co
TcRuRh
Atomic radius (pm): 140
Bohr radius (pm): 156
Covalent radius (pm): 125
Van der Waals radius (pm):
ionic radius (pm): (+3) 55
1st ion potential (eV): 7.90
Electron Configuration
1s2
2s2 2p6
3s2 3p6 3d6
4s2
Electrons Per Shell
2, 8, 14, 2
Electronegativity: 1.83
Electron Affinity: 0.15
Oxidation states: 2, 3
Magnetism: Ferromagnetic
Crystal structure: Body centered cubic

Iron is a Transition Metal in group 8. It has a Body centered cubic crystalline structure. This element has 4 stable isotopes: 54, 56, 57, and 58.


Lunar Iron Production

Lunar iron is present both in metallic form and as oxides. Metallic iron is found virtually everywhere on the moon, alloyed with nickel in tiny particles dispersed in the regolith, the remnants of pulverized nickel-iron meteorites. Iron oxides are found predominately on the maria, where they can make up nearly 15% of the regolith by weight.

Metalic iron is strongly attracted to magnetic fields, and can be easily separated from the lunar regolith. Ilmenite(FeTiO3), the oxide mineral most commonly proposed for both iron and titanium production, can also be separated by magnetic means. Ilmenite's attraction to magnetic fields is much weaker than that of metallic iron, enabling separation of the two after gathering.


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