Difference between Iron Age metals...?

Question

1. Rank steel, bronze, wrought iron, and cast iron in order of quality for weapons and tools.

2. Which of those metals were used to make the best weapons in the Iron Age?

3. Which of those metals were used to make most tools in the Iron Age, and why?

I'm not sure, but here's what I think the answers are:
1. Steel is best, then bronze, then wrought iron, then cast iron.

2. Steel, since it's the best.

3. Wrought iron, since it was the cheapest at the time, since it was easier to make than steel, and more common than bronze.

Answer 1

A lot depends on the qualities of the metal ores, the trace elements, and how they are influenced by the different production methods. See for example the katana, where three different kinds of steel were used, hard on the outside, flexible on the inside. See also "Wootz steel" AKA "Damascus steel", "Blister steel" and "Crucible steel".

But rougly, good steel is on average the hardest and most flexible, and the most suited for weapons and tools. Bronze, with the right trace elements (i.e. arsenic, which makes "arsenical bronze"), is a close second, but more brittle. Then comes wrought iron (dependent on the level of carbon), and last cast iron, which is usually very brittle. Again, depending on the circumstances, bronze and wrought iron can change places. In fact, there is a theory that in Europe the Iron Age began not because iron was better, but because of a disturbance in the trade routes for tin, which was needed for bronze manufacture.

Answer 2

According to this site, the order (from worst to first) is:
1. Bronze
2. Iron (wrought, then cast)
3. Steel

The best weapons were made of steel (iron replaced bronze, then weapon makers added carbon to iron to make steel)

I would imagine that steel was preferred due to its durability, but I don't know how many were made of each. I would say iron because it is known as "The Iron Age" though.