What is a ferrous metal?

a ferrous metal is a metal primarily made of iron and other metals to give the correct properties

Iron is often referred to as a ferrous metal, but the word ferrous really refers to compounds containing iron. Compounds containing iron having a valance of +2 are ferrous; those compounds containing iron having a valence of +3 are ferric.

In a more general sense, ferrous metals are metals or metal alloys that contain the element iron. Steel, for example, is a ferrous metal, and there are a number of other alloys that contain iron. Use the link below for more information.

all ferrous metals are magnetic and contain a small amount of other metals to provide the correct properties