why is iron never found naturally as a metal?

Answer 1

It rusts. It almost never is found. Obviously, we have a mostly iron core and liquid outer core as well but they are far beyond our reach. There are meteorites that contain iron.

Answer 2

When the rocks are formed deep in the earths core, iron is found there in a solid state. Over millions of years the rocks make their way to the surface to a depth where we can get at it with mines and such like. During this time the metal has reacted with other elements in the ground, and with oxygen and water, to change and form an alloy (a mixed up metal) and so is no longer iron. It needs a furnace to extract it into a useable form.

Some metals are less reactive and you can find nugets of these lying about, for example Gold.

Answer 3

It is too reactive.It combines with oxygen to give iron oxides.Only unreactive metals like gold are found as metals.

Answer 4

Because iron is a highly reactive element. Iron cannot be by itself. It reacts with water, air, etc easily and forms compounds easily.

Answer 5

It is highly reactive with Oxigen. The metal comes out of the Ground as an oxide.

Answer 6

Small quantities are found in meteorites which come down from space. Iron is too reactive and combines with oxygen to form hematite and magnetite.

Answer 7

No metal is found naturally. All metals are in an ore that is mined and has to be processed to make it a metal.

Answer 8

Iron is very reactive so does not remain as an element for long. Think of Rust!!!

Answer 9

Iron usually exists in their oxide state ...very soon after they are seperated in the blast furnace they r covered with another layer to prevent from forming oxides again....

Answer 10

because iron ore has to have impurities taken out before it is recognisable as the iron that we use to make things, but is a very abundant material.