chemistry Chemistry is the science, scientific study of the properties and behavior of matter. It is a natural science that covers the Chemical element, elements that make up matter to the chemical compound, compounds made of atoms, molecules and ions ...

, the adjective Ferrous indicates a compound that contains iron(II), meaning iron in its +2 oxidation state, possibly as the divalent

cation An ion () is an atom or molecule with a net electrical charge. The charge of an electron is considered to be negative by convention and this charge is equal and opposite to the charge of a proton, which is considered to be positive by convent ...

Fe²⁺. It is opposed to " ferric" or iron(III), meaning iron in its +3 oxidation state, such as the trivalent cation Fe³⁺.ferrous
entry in the

Merriam-Webster Merriam-Webster, Inc. is an American company that publishes reference books and is especially known for its dictionaries. It is the oldest dictionary publisher in the United States. In 1831, George and Charles Merriam founded the company as ...

online dictionary. Accessed on 2008-04-19. This usage has been largely replaced by the IUPAC nomenclature, which calls for the oxidation state being indicated by Roman numerals in parentheses, such as iron(II) oxide for ferrous oxide (FeO),

iron(III) oxide Iron(III) oxide or ferric oxide is the inorganic compound with the formula Fe2O3. It is one of the three main oxides of iron, the other two being iron(II) oxide (FeO), which is rare; and iron(II,III) oxide (Fe3O4), which also occurs naturally ...

for ferric oxide (Fe₂O₃), and

iron(II,III) oxide Iron(II,III) oxide is the chemical compound with formula Fe3O4. It occurs in nature as the mineral magnetite. It is one of a number of iron oxides, the others being iron(II) oxide (FeO), which is rare, and iron(III) oxide (Fe2O3) which also occur ...

for the oxide that contains both forms of iron. Pourbaix Diagram of Iron

Outside chemistry, "ferrous" means generally "containing iron". The word is derived from the Latin word ' ("iron"). Ferrous metals include

steel Steel is an alloy made up of iron with added carbon to improve its strength and fracture resistance compared to other forms of iron. Many other elements may be present or added. Stainless steels that are corrosion- and oxidation-resistant ty ...

and

pig iron Pig iron, also known as crude iron, is an intermediate product of the iron industry in the production of steel which is obtained by smelting iron ore in a blast furnace. Pig iron has a high carbon content, typically 3.8–4.7%, along with silic ...

(with a carbon content of a few percent) and alloys of iron with other metals (such as stainless steel). " Non-ferrous" is used to describe metals and alloys that do not contain an appreciable amount of iron.non-ferrous
entry in the Merriam-Webster online dictionary. Accessed on 2008-04-19. The term "ferrous" is usually applied only to metals and alloys. The adjective ferruginous is used instead to refer to non-metallic substances that contain iron, such as "ferruginous water"; or to an orangish-brown color resembling that of rust.ferruginous
entry in the Merriam-Webster online dictionary. Accessed on 2019-03-08.

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{{reflist, 30em Iron

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