Iron

—One of the metallic elements. Of all metals, none plays so important a part in civilization, mechanical advance, etc., as iron; it is obtained from ores in which it is combined with earthy or stony substances and frequently with carbon, phosphorus, sulphur, arsenic, magnesia, etc.; iron is never found in its native condition, chemically pure, nor is any iron manufactured in a large way found to be free from impurities. Iron is put upon the market in four forms: (1) cast iron; (2) malleable; (3) wrought iron; (4) steel. Different names are given to iron as needed to describe its size, form, quality or use, thus: go amer iron (sponge iron), hoop, band, scroll, tee, groove, plate, bar, angle, flat, rod, sheet, hexagon, galvanized, horse shoe, railroad and scrap iron.