what is the extraction of iron?
Iron ore which is primarily Fe2O3 is heated with coke ( carbon ) in a blast furnace. the carbon reduces the Fe2O3 to Fe. 2Fe2O3 + 3C 4Fe + 3CO2 This produces what is known as pig iron. ( It is cast into blocks which are called pigs ) This contains about 4% carbon. It ( cast iron ) is brittle, but it has better heat resistance than steel. To convert the pig iron into steel it is heated in a furnace ( Bessemer converter or open hearth furnace ) until molten then air is blown through to remove the carbon as CO2. This produces what is called mild steel. Additives can then be added to convert into stainless steel, chrome vanadium steel used for tools, etc.
