Final answer:
An organism that oxidizes iron for energy and uses CO2 as a carbon source is called a chemoautotroph. These are autotrophs who derive their energy from chemical reactions with inorganic substances and fix inorganic carbon into organic compounds.
Step-by-step explanation:
An organism that oxidizes iron to obtain energy and uses CO2 as its carbon source is known as a chemoautotroph. This classification is based on the two-part system that considers both the energy and carbon sources of organisms. Chemoautotrophs garner energy from chemical reactions involving inorganic substances, such as iron oxidation, and fix inorganic carbon dioxide (CO2) into organic carbon compounds through a process called carbon fixation.
The term 'autotroph' is derived from the Greek words 'auto,' meaning self, and 'trophe,' meaning nourishment. Therefore, organisms that are capable of synthesizing their own food from inorganic substances, acting as primary producers in their ecosystems, are classified as autotrophs. Since the organism in question does not require light to produce energy but rather utilizes chemical energy, it differs from photoautotrophs, which use sunlight for energy.