GCSE CHEMISTRY - Extraction of Iron using Carbon Monoxide from Coke - Reduction of Iron Ore in the Blast Furnace

Extraction of Iron.

Hot air is blasted into the furnace causing coke (carbon)
to burn rapidly producing carbon dioxide
and raising the temperature to 2000 °C.

carbon + oxygen carbon dioxide + heat.
C_(s) + O_2(g) CO_2(g)

The carbon dioxide then
reacts with hot carbon to form carbon monoxide.

carbon dioxide + carbon carbon monoxide.
CO₂_(g) + C_(s) 2CO_(g)

Carbon monoxide then reduces iron in the ore to iron metal.

carbon monoxide + iron(III) oxide carbon dioxide + iron.
3CO_(g) + Fe₂O₃_(s) 3CO₂_(g) + 2Fe_(l)

The temperature where the reduction takes place is above 1500 °C.
Iron falls to the bottom of the furnace
where the temperature is approximately 2000 °C.
Iron is liquid at this temperature and is tapped off periodically.

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