Sabrina Arnett
11-08-07
Chemists Forge a New Form of Iron
University of Wisconsin, (2006), “Chemists Forge a New Form of Iron”
An international team of chemists has discovered a new and unexpected form of iron, a finding that adds to the fundamental understanding of an element that is among the most abundant on Earth, and that in nature is fundamental for life.
The new species of iron found by John Berry and his colleagues is designated iron VL, which means the atom, has just two valance electrons and is highly reactive as it seeks to regain iron’s eight electron stable configurations by grabbing electrons from other elements. The new form is so reactive it can only be studied at very low temperatures.
By reading this article, I learned that a new form of iron has been discovered. I also learned that it is so reactive that it can only be studied at about minus 40 degrees F.
