Extracting Iron using the Blast Furnace

A metal such as iron, which is less reactive than carbon, can be extracted from its ore using carbon

Reactions in the blast furnace: 

-  C + O₂ > CO₂

- The coke burns, to form carbon dioxide and to produce heat

- CO₂ + C > 2CO

- The carbon dioxide reacts with more hot coke to produce carbon monoxide gas.

- 3CO + Fe₂O₃ > 2Fe + 3CO₂

- The carbon monoxide removes the oxygen from the iron ore this is called reduction.

- The main impurity in the iron ore is silica this reacts with the limestone to produce slag (calcium silicate)