This transition metal is the fourth most abundant element in the Earth's crust and important among the metals, only the aluminum is more abundant.

It is malleable, soft, ductile, tough, gray, silver good conductor of electricity due to the presence of magnetic properties.

Is the metal most used, with 95% by weight of the world's metal. The pure iron does not have too many applications, with exceptions for their potential magnetic.

Its major use is to make steel products, using this as a matrix to accommodate other elements aleantes both metallic and non metallic, which confer different properties to the material. It is believed that iron is an alloy steel contains less than 25% of carbon, if the percentage is higher, is called castings.

The use of this metal recovered represents a savings of up to 70% of energy.