IRON EXTRACTION

Extraction of iron

Main type of iron ore is haematite which contains iron(III)oxide. mixed with impurities such as sand and clay. Iron is extracted from haematite in a blast furnace. Haematite, coke and limestone are added at the top of the blast furnace. Blasts of hot air are blown into the furnace near the bottom.

carbon dioxide is produced:

carbon monoxide is produced

The carbon monoxide reduces the iron in the ore to give molten iron:

The limestone from 2, reacts with the sand to form slag (calcium silicate):

Both slag and molten iron runs to the bottom of the furnace. Hot waste gases containing carbon monoxide  carbon dioxide and nitrogen escape through the top of the furnace.

Iron ore contains the impurities sand and clay, which are silicon oxide.Limestone is added to removes these impurities

calcium oxide + silicon(Iv)oxide ------->calcium silicate (slag)

The lighter slag float on top of molten iron and is tapped off separately from the iron. solidified slag is used for road surfacing.

picture:

blast furnace:http://scienceaid.co.uk/chemistry/applied/blastfurnace.html

 equation:http://www.s-cool.co.uk/gcse/chemistry/extraction-of-metals/revise-it/the-blast-furnace