From the Anglo-Saxon word iron . Iron's chemical symbol comes from the Latin word for iron, ferrum . Archaeological evidence suggests that people have been using iron for at least 5000 years. Huge amounts of iron are used to make steel, an alloy of iron and carbon . The addition of other elements can give steel other useful properties.
Steel is used to make paper clips, skyscrapers and everything in between.
In addition to helping build the world around us, iron helps keep plants and animals alive. Iron plays a role in the creation of chlorophyll in plants and is an essential part of hemoglobin, the substance that carries oxygen within red blood cells. This page is maintained by Steve Gagnon .