Overview
Test Series
The way electrons are arranged around the nucleus of an atom is called its electronic configuration. This arrangement plays a key role in understanding an element’s behaviour like how it reacts with other substances, its magnetic properties, and where it fits in the periodic table. It also helps explain how atoms bond and form different chemical compounds.
When we look at the electronic configuration of iron, we can better understand its reactivity, common oxidation states, and role in biological processes. Iron is one of the most common and important transition metals found on Earth. Its special properties make it useful in many areas from construction and transportation to energy systems and even biological processes in our body.
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Iron (Fe) has an atomic number of 26, which means it has 26 electrons. The shorthand electronic configuration of iron is [Ar] 3d⁶ 4s²
This means that iron has :
If we write the full configuration, it looks like this:
1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 4s² 3d⁶
The way these electrons are arranged helps explain iron's chemical and physical behavior like how it reacts with other substances, its magnetic nature, and how it forms bonds. Since iron is a transition metal with a partly filled d-orbital, it can easily form different types of chemical bonds. This makes it useful in many fields like construction, transport, and even biological systems.
Iron commonly shows two oxidation states:Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺. Here's how their electronic configurations change:
When iron loses 2 electrons from the 4s orbitals, its configuration becomes:[Ar] 3d6.
In this case, iron loses 3 electrons-two from the 4s orbitals and one from the 3d orbital. So, the configuration becomes:[Ar] 3d5.
These changes in configuration affect how iron behaves in different chemical reactions and compounds.
An element’s valency is based on how many electrons it gains,loses, or shares to reach a stable (noble gas) configuration. In iron, most electrons in the 3d orbitals are unpaired, with only one pair. Iron commonly shows valency of +2 and +3. It has a valency of +2 when it loses both 4s electrons. Sometimes, it also loses one electron from the 3d orbital, making all 3d electrons unpaired and more stable. In that case, its valency becomes +3.
Iron is one of the most useful and widely used metals in everyday life and industries. Here are some of its common applications:
Iron is commonly used in homes because it is strong, durable and versatile. Some of its main uses in the residential sector include:
Iron plays a major role in many industries thanks to its strength, availability, and low cost. Here are some key areas where it’s used:
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