• Question: Is iron and steel different?

    Asked by issi2001 to Anil, Blanka, Cees, Emma, Mike on 29 Jun 2012.
    • Photo: Emma Trantham

      Emma Trantham answered on 29 Jun 2012:

      Yes they are different. Iron is an element (which means it is something that is only made up of one type of atom – in this case, iron atoms).

      Steel is an alloy (a mixture) and is made up of iron mixed with something else, usually carbon. Adding carbon to the iron basically makes it stronger.

    • Photo: Blanka Sengerova

      Blanka Sengerova answered on 29 Jun 2012:

      Thanks, Emma, that is a useful answer. In the past it has also been described to me as steel being basically a sort of improved iron.

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