Which metals are prone to corrosion due to containing iron?

Ferrous metals are those that consist primarily of iron and are known for their susceptibility to corrosion, particularly rusting when exposed to moisture and oxygen. This is due to the chemical reaction between iron, water, and oxygen, which leads to the formation of iron oxides, also known as rust. The presence of iron in these metals is what makes them prone to corrosion.

In contrast, non-ferrous metals, such as aluminum, copper, and zinc, do not contain iron and generally exhibit better corrosion resistance. Alloys, which can include a combination of ferrous and non-ferrous metals, do not inherently possess the same corrosion vulnerabilities as pure ferrous metals unless they contain significant amounts of iron. Precious metals, like gold and silver, are highly resistant to corrosion and do not react like ferrous metals, making them unsuitable options in the context of corrosion caused by iron.

Therefore, the characteristic of ferrous metals being prone to corrosion directly stems from their iron content, which is the key factor in this question.