Extraction of iron IGCSE Chemistry

What are the raw materials?

Iron ore (haemonite), Coke (carbon), limestone (CaCO₃), Air

What are the processes involved in order of reaction?

The gases are mixed together and fed into the top of the blast furnace then air is blasted into the bottom of the furnace.

What is produced?

Molten slag; Molten iron

Uses of iron?

Car nails; iron nails; ships and bridges

What is the most useful property of iron?

Strong and resists corrosion

(Chemical equations) How is iron extracted

C + O₂ = CO₂; CO₂ + C = 2CO; Fe₂O₃+ 3CO = 2Fe + CO₂; CaCO₃ = CaO + CO₂; CaO + SiO₂ = CaSiO₃

What are the orders of the processes to form iron?

Oxygen in the air reacts with coke to form carbon dioxide. Carbon Dioxide reacts with the coke to frm carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide reduces the iron(III) oxide in the Iron ore to form Iron. Carbon Carbonate decomposoes. Calcium oxide reacts with Silicon dioxide

How is slag formed?

Carbon Carbonate decomposes. Calcium oxide reacts with Silicon dioxide to form Calcium silicate.

(Chemical equations) How is slag formed?

CaCO₃ = CaO + CO₂; CaO + SiO₂ = CaSiO₃

Where does Silicon dioxide come from?

Silicon Dioxide is an impurity in the iron ore.

How is slag collected?

Calcium silicate (CaSiO₃) melts and is collected as slag o top of the molten iron, which is tapped off separately.

Which is the neutralization reaction?

CaO(s)+ SiO2(s) → CaSiO3(l). CaO is basic (metal oxide) but SiO₂ is acidic (non-metal oxide)

What is the function of the Iron Ore?

A compound that contains iron, haemonite.

What is the function of Coke?

Contains carbon- Burns in air to produce heat, and reacts to form carbon monoxide (needed to reduce the iron oxide).

What is the function of Limestone?

Contains calcium carbonate- helps to remove acidic impurities from the iron by reacting with them to form molten slag

What is the function of Air?

Contains oxygen- allows the coke to burn, and so produces heat

Which is the displacement reaction?

Carbon is more reactive than Iron, so can displace Iron from Oxygen.