What’s the difference between Iron That we consume and Iron that we use to make swords/Armors/Bullets

Question

What’s the difference between Iron That we consume and Iron that we use to make swords/Armors/Bullets

In: 16

Answer 1

Atoms exist in different [oxidation states](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxidation_state), which gives them different properties. By definition, [elemental is zero](https://chemed.chem.purdue.edu/genchem/topicreview/bp/ch2/oxnumb.html)

Iron in compounds will have different oxidation states, and thus different properties. For example, rust or [iron pyrite](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyrite).

https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/iron/

Iron in the diet is already in compounds that can more readily be reprocessed in digestion.

In a way, your question is similar to “what’s the difference between oxygen in the air and oxygen in water/sugar/rust”.