Period 4 element in period 4, between chromium and iron. Manganese is often found free in nature, but is also found in combination with iron. Manganese, like chromium before it, is an important component in stainless steel, preventing the iron from rusting. Manganese is also often used in pigments, again like chromium. Manganese is also poisonous; if enough is inhaled, it can cause irreversible neurological damage. Iron (Fe) is an element in period 4, between manganese and cobalt. Iron is probably the most well-known element in period 4, being the most common element in the earth and a major component of steel. Iron-56
The Stainless Steel Rat outfoxed by the mysterious "Special Corps" — a crime-fighting organisation staffed with former criminals — and recruited by them in order to fight crime. Harrison used the story, with minor modifications, as the introduction to the series' first full-length novel, also called "The Stainless Steel Rat". Like other characters created by Harrison, the Rat is a speaker of Esperanto and advocates atheism. There are 13 works in the Stainless Steel Rat series. Based on information in "The Stainless Steel Rat Saves the World" it is possible to work out when the timeline is set: James is sent 32,598 years into