Fearless is nothing if not relentless in this countdown of the
Washington Capitals and their place in the periodic table of the elements. He is rewarded with a look at one of the
strongest of elements…
Iron
While common on earth, iron is often produced in stellar
furnaces, a process that involves fusion in high-mass stars. The process is intensely “exothermic”
(releasing energy, usually heat, from the system) It makes iron one of the most
abundant elements in all the universe.
In its pure form iron is a reactive element in the presence of oxygen or
water, often forming the class of compounds known as iron oxides, which take on
a red color.
Iron has been found in objects dating back at least 5,000
years. References to it can be found in
both the Old and New Testament of the Bible.
In ancient times it was often used for weaponry, having the advantages
of durability (even with its propensity to rust) and strength superior to that
of bronze.
As time passed, processes to produce iron were discovered
and refined. With those refinements came
an expansion of its applications, from warfare to agriculture, architecture,
and infrastructure. Processes were
developed to remove impurities from iron, then alloying it with other metals
(nickel or chromium, for example). This
substance – steel – was more malleable than iron, more versatile, more durable. Adding carbon to iron to produce a form of
steel makes the resulting substance harder, stronger, and more durable, especially
well-suited for tools and machinery.
Iron also can be found in some fungicides, pigments, and abrasives. One might make a case that it is the
cheapest, yet most useful of metals.
Iron is a ubiquitous and essential element in biology. It gives blood its red color with its
presence in hemoglobin. It is present in
some enzymes that are involved in fixing nitrogen, a process that makes
nitrogen more reactive than in its more common, gaseous diatomic state. It can be found in some proteins. In the physical world it can be found in a
molten state in the earth’s core.
Iron, as you can see, is quite literally essential to the
life blood of the body. It is strong and
durable, especially when in the presence of other elements. It is tempered in the heat of stars; it is
reactive in air and water. Over time it
has seen its applications grow in importance and variety. It might bring to mind a young, feisty,
sturdy goaltender who has played in at least 50 games in each of the last seven
seasons (including playoffs), save for the abbreviated 2013 season. Even in that instance he played in 43 of the
team’s 55 games.
Iron… the “Braden Holtby” of elements of the periodic table.
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