The name of the element with the symbol “Fe” is iron. Iron is a metallic chemical element with atomic number 26, meaning each neutral iron atom contains 26 protons. It sits in group 8 of the periodic table and is the most common element by mass on Earth, largely because it makes up much of the planet’s core.
The symbol Fe comes from ferrum, the Latin word for iron. This is why the symbol does not resemble the English name. Several other elements also use symbols derived from Latin names, including sodium (Na, natrium), potassium (K, kalium), and copper (Cu, cuprum).
Iron is especially important because it forms strong alloys. Steel, an alloy mainly of iron and carbon, became central to modern construction, transport, and machinery. Iron also plays a biological role: hemoglobin uses iron to help red blood cells carry oxygen. A common mix-up is confusing iron with steel; iron is the element, while steel is a material made primarily from iron combined with carbon and sometimes other elements.