> On the Periodic Table of Elements, which element has the chemical symbol Fe?And the answer: Iron.Iron gets its symbol of Fe from the Latin word ferrum, which means "firmness."Making up 5% of the Earth’s crust, iron is found in abundance and is themost-used metal on the planet.Photo credit: Chemistry Learner [https://www.chemistrylearner.com/iron.html].Iron is an element that has played an integral role in human history. From itsdiscovery during the Iron Age around 1200 BCE, to its ubiquitous use in anythingfrom manufacturing to transportation today, iron is an incredibly strong, yetbrittle substance that gives form to life as we know it. Interestingly, iron is found in abundance beyond our planet. It forms the coreof every planet in our solar system, and has even been discovered in the coresof stars. In fact, the classic, dusty red color of Mars can be attributed tohigh amounts of iron oxide (AKA rust) on its surface. Even more fascinating: theearliest uses of iron on our planet are thought to have derived from ironmeteorites that fell to Earth. Meteoric iron was, at the time, the onlynaturally available source of iron, as the metal reacts readily with oxygen tocreate iron ore. Because there is no oxygen in space, meteors delivered thematerial to Earth in a form that humans could use without having the technologyto extract it from its ore. From there, humans began to form the basis ofknowledge which would eventually allow them to not only extract but thrive withthis powerful element. Iron is also abundantly present in our blood. In fact, our blood is red becauseof the interaction between oxygen and iron. Iron is essential throughout mostbodily processes, but it is perhaps best known for its role in hemoglobinproduction. Hemoglobin is the protein molecule in red blood cells that carriesoxygen from the lungs to the body's tissues and returns carbon dioxide from thetissues back to the lungs (AKA breathing). Bodily deficiencies in iron cancreate a plethora of problems, from the common anemia to breathing problems andmore. Yet, such uses are only the tip of the iceberg in the ways that iron allows usto survive. Learn more about its history, uses and other essential roles here[https://www.livescience.com/29263-iron.html]. And now, a joke.What do you call a big, spinning carnival ride made of iron?A ferrous wheel.