Is Iron a Metal or Nonmetal? (+ 3 Surprising Facts to Know)

Iron is a metal. It is a chemical element with the symbol Fe and atomic number 26. Iron is the 4th most abundant element in the Earth’s crust and is a common component of many minerals. ¹

Well, this was just a simple answer. But there are few more things to know about this topic which will make your concept super clear.

So let’s dive right into it.

Explanation: Why is iron a metal?

Iron is a metal because it has the characteristic properties of metals, such as being a good conductor of heat and electricity, having a lustrous appearance, and being malleable and ductile. ²

In terms of its electronic structure, iron has a relatively low ionization energy and a high electron affinity, which makes it easy for iron atoms to lose electrons and form positive ions. ³

This results in metallic bonding, where the positively charged iron ions are surrounded by a “sea” of delocalized electrons that can move freely throughout the metal lattice. ⁴

Iron is also a transition metal, which means it has partially filled d-orbitals that contribute to its unique properties such as its ability to form colored compounds and to participate in redox reactions. ⁵

Overall, these physical and chemical properties make iron a classic example of a metal and an important material for a wide range of applications, from construction to transportation to electronics.

Properties of iron that classify it as a metal

Iron has several properties that classify it as a metal:

• Good conductor of heat and electricity: Iron is a good conductor of heat and electricity due to the mobility of its electrons, which can easily carry heat and electrical energy through the metal. ^{6 7}
• Lustrous appearance: Iron has a shiny, metallic appearance due to its ability to reflect light. This is because of the way that the delocalized electrons in the metal interact with light. ⁸
• Malleable: Iron is malleable, which means it can be easily hammered or pressed into different shapes without breaking. This is due to the ability of its metallic bonds to shift and adjust without breaking. ⁹
• Ductile: Iron is ductile, which means it can be drawn out into thin wires without breaking. This is also due to the flexibility of its metallic bonds.
• Low ionization energy: Iron has a relatively low ionization energy, which means it can easily lose electrons to form positive ions. ¹⁰
• Metallic bonding: Iron exhibits metallic bonding, where the positive ions are surrounded by a sea of delocalized electrons that can move freely throughout the metal lattice.

How is iron different from other metals?

Iron is different from other metals in several ways. Some of these differences include:

• Abundance: Iron is the 4th most abundant element in the Earth’s crust, whereas some other metals, such as gold or platinum, are relatively rare. ¹¹
• Reactivity: Iron is more reactive than many other metals, such as copper or silver. This means that iron can easily rust or corrode when exposed to moisture and oxygen. ¹²
• Magnetism: Iron is magnetic, while most other metals are not. This is due to the orientation of its electrons in its metallic bonding. ¹³
• Density: Iron has a relatively high density compared to some other metals, such as aluminum or magnesium. ¹⁴
• Melting point: Iron has a higher melting point than some other common metals, such as zinc or lead. ¹⁵
• Color: Iron has a grayish-white color, while some other metals, such as gold or copper, have distinctive colors.
• Uses: Iron has many uses, such as in construction, transportation, and manufacturing, while some other metals are more commonly used in other applications, such as silver in jewelry or copper in electronics.

Overall, while iron shares many properties with other metals, such as conductivity and malleability, it also has unique characteristics that set it apart from other metals.

Further reading

Is Cobalt a Metal or Nonmetal?
Is Nickel a Metal?
Is Copper a Metal or Nonmetal?
Is Zinc a Metal or a Nonmetal?
Is Gallium a Metal, Nonmetal or Metalloid?

1. Frey, P. A., & Reed, G. H. (2012, August 27). The Ubiquity of Iron. ACS Chemical Biology, 7(9), 1477–1481. https://doi.org/10.1021/cb300323q
2. Iron – Wikipedia. (2018, March 6). Iron – Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron
3. Ionic Compounds | manoa.hawaii.edu/ExploringOurFluidEarth. (n.d.). Ionic Compounds | manoa.hawaii.edu/ExploringOurFluidEarth. https://manoa.hawaii.edu/exploringourfluidearth/chemical/chemistry-and-seawater/ionic-compounds
4. metallic bonding. (n.d.). Metallic Bonding. https://www.chemguide.co.uk/atoms/bonding/metallic.html
5. P. (n.d.). Iron | Fe (Element) – PubChem. Iron | Fe (Element) – PubChem. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/element/Iron
6. Elsevier https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2014.02.047
7. Nde-ed.org https://www.nde-ed.org/NDETechniques/EddyCurrent/ET_Tables/ET_matlprop_Iron-Based.xhtml
8. NIST https://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/bulletin/07/nbsbulletinv7n2p197_A2b.pdf
9. Hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/pertab/fe.html
10. Chauhan, V., Reber, A. C., & Khanna, S. N. (2018, June 15). Strong lowering of ionization energy of metallic clusters by organic ligands without changing shell filling. Nature Communications, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-018-04799-0
11. Iron – Element information, properties and uses | Periodic Table. (n.d.). Iron – Element Information, Properties and Uses | Periodic Table. https://www.rsc.org/periodic-table/element/26/iron
12. Rusting iron can be its own worst enemy. (2022, January 21). Rice News | News and Media Relations | Rice University. https://news.rice.edu/news/2022/rusting-iron-can-be-its-own-worst-enemy
13. Metals and Magnetism – American Chemical Society. (n.d.). Metals and Magnetism – American Chemical Society. https://www.acs.org/education/whatischemistry/adventures-in-chemistry/experiments/metals-magnetism.html
14. P. (n.d.). Density | Periodic Table of Elements. Density | Periodic Table of Elements – PubChem. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/periodic-table/density
15. Periodic Trends. (2013, October 2). Chemistry LibreTexts. https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Inorganic_Chemistry/Supplemental_Modules_and_Websites_(Inorganic_Chemistry)/Descriptive_Chemistry/Periodic_Trends_of_Elemental_Properties/Periodic_Trends