Chapter 1, Problem 1.34QE

In the following description of the element iron, identify which of the properties are chemical and which are physical. “Iron is rarely found as the free element in nature. Mostly it is found combined with oxygen in an ore. The metal itself can be obtained by reacting the ore with carbon, producing iron and carbon dioxide. Iron is a silver colored metal that conducts heat and electricity well. It is one of the most structurally important metals because of its hardness and mechanical strength, and it makes alloys with many other metals. Stainless steel is one useful alloy of iron that does not corrode in the presence of water and I oxygen, like pure iron does.”