What is Iron Used For?
Are you looking for an easy way to teach your child about rocks and minerals? We’ve put together a set of free materials that parents and teachers can use right away.
In this lesson, your child will dive into the fascinating world of iron.We’ll explore the role of iron in human progress and its sources. Explore science in a more engaging way with captivating 3D videos and interactive quizzes. Download our app to get started!
Table of Contents
What you will learn from this lesson
- he Pure or native iron is rare in nature.
- Iron is sourced from minerals like hematite and magnetite.
- Smelting uses high temperatures to transform minerals into iron.
- Iron tools helped humanity make great progress.
Iron is an element that has driven great progress for humanity, especially through its use in making strong, durable tools. These tools, such as plows and swords, were much more durable than those made from the earlier alloy bronze, leading to advancements in areas like agricultural efficiency and military strength. The shift to using iron for tools and weapons was so significant that it marked the beginning of a historical period known as the Iron Age.
Iron is not usually found in its pure form, or native iron, as this is very rare in nature. Instead, the element is sourced from minerals like hematite and magnetite. Magnetite is an oxide mineral known for being naturally magnetic, which means it can attract iron objects.
To get usable iron, these minerals go through a process called smelting, which requires very high temperatures. Smelting transforms the minerals into iron that can be used to manufacture tools and weapons. Magnetite, which has a Mohs hardness of 5.5 to 6 and a black streak, has been used in this iron extraction process for about 4000 years. The strong, durable tools made from the extracted iron are a key part of what iron is used for and why it allowed for such great progress in human history.
Fun Fact
- Tools and weapons made from iron were much stronger than those made from the earlier material, bronze.
- Finding native iron in nature is incredibly rare; people usually get iron from minerals like hematite and magnetite.
- The discovery of iron led to the Iron Age, a time of great progress in tool-making for farming and defense.
Vocabulary
- Native Iron: Iron found in its pure metallic form in nature, which is a very rare occurrence.
- Hematite: A mineral that is a source from which the element iron can be extracted.
- Magnetite: A mineral that is a source from which the element iron can be extracted.
- Element: A pure substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances. Iron is an element.