5.

04 Extracting iron

Remember Iron is found below carbon in the reactivity series. So we can extract iron from its ore by
reducing iron using carbon.

The extraction of iron is done in a large chimney at least 30 m tall. This chimney is called a blast
furnace.

What happens inside a blast furnace?

 A mixture called the charge (containing iron ore, coke and limestone) is added to the top of
the furnace.
 Hot air is blasted from the bottom of the furnace.
 After a series of reactions, liquid iron gets collected at the bottom.
The charge

Charge contains three things.

1. Iron ore – Usually called hematite. Found as iron(iii)oxide mixed with sand.
2. Coke – Made from coal. Almost pure carbon.
3. Limestone – A rock made of calcium carbonate (CaCO 3)

The reactions inside the blast furnace

Stag Reactions, products and waste gases Comments

e
1 The coke burns giving off heat (temp 1400°C) This reaction is exothermic. It gives off
heat.
The blast of hot air starts the coke burning. It Oxygen to react with carbon comes from
reacts with Carbon, forming carbon dioxide. the blast of hot air.

C(g) + O2 (g) CO2 (g)

2 Carbon monoxide is made (temp 800°C)
Carbon dioxide react with more coke,
producing carbon monoxide.
C(g) + CO2 (g) 2CO (g)
Carbon dioxide loses oxygen, so it was
reduced.
This reaction is endothermic. It takes in
heat. The overall temperature reduces.
This is necessary for the next stage.

3 The iron(iii)oxide is reduced (temp 400°C) Carbon monoxide acted as a reducing

Carbon monoxide reacts with iron(iii)oxide
giving liquid iron and carbon dioxide.
Fe2O3 (s) + 3CO (g) 2Fe(l) + CO2 (g)
Liquid iron trickles to the bottom of the
furnace.
4 The limestone reaction
Silica is an impurity present with iron ore.
Limestone react with silica to produce
calcium cilicate or slag.
agent. It reduced Iron(iii)oxide.
Carbon monoxide gained oxygen, so it
was oxidized.
Since both reduction and oxidation
happen in this reaction, this is a redox
reaction.
Calcium carbonate is basic, silica is acidic,
so this is a neutralization reaction.
The molten slag is used to make roads.

CaCO3 (s) + SiO2 (g) CaSiO3(s) + CO2 (g)

Silica also trickles down the furnace and
floats on iron.

Waste gases

Nitrogen and unused carbon dioxide escape through the top of the furnace.