Iron is a transition metal and is placed in group VIII of the periodic table. Being a transition element, it exhibits variable valencies and being a metal, it donates electrons (rather than accepting them, like a non-metal). Iron exhibits two valencies: +2 and +3.
Iron has an atomic number of 26 and has an electronic configuration of
As stated, iron has an electron pair in 3d orbital and a total of 6 electrons. However, it should be noted that both 4s and 3d orbitals are very similar in energy levels and iron loses the two 4s electrons first (for a valency of +2). It can lose an additional electron from 3d orbital (for a valency of +3) and achieve more stability with 5 electrons in 3d orbital.
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