Iron is extracted by chemical reduction from the ores haematite (Fe₂O₃), magnetite or Iron (III) carbonate (FeCO₃)

Occurrence: - Iron does not occur free in nature. It occurs combined with other elements as ores.

It is the second most abundant metal found in the earth's crust after aluminium.

Iron is also present as silicates in clay soils, in the animal pigment haemoglobin and also in chlorophyll in plants.

The extraction process

The extraction process is carried out in a blast furnace. The blast furnace is a 30m high and 8m in diameter furnace lined with fire-bricks at the inside. It has a comparatively high temperature at the bottom and low temperature at the top. The lower part of the furnace has openings called tuyeres.

The process

The ore is first roasted to remove water. The roasted ore is mixed with coke and limestone and continuously fed at the top of the blast furnace while hot air is blasted at the bottom through tuyeres.

Coke which acts as both a fuel and a reducing agent are oxidized by hot air to carbon dioxide.

separate opening. The waste gas mixture which comes out of the mace contains mainly nitrogen with about 30% carbon monoxide and 10% carbondioxide.

Uses of iron

• Used as a hard core in the construction of roads (bridges) because it is hard and strong.
•  Used in making agricultural implements like hoes and cutlasses.
• Used in making stoves
• As steel, it is used in the manufacture of stainless steel cutlery, electromagnets, armor plate in warships and military tanks and also in automobile industry.