How is iron made in a blast furnace?
Quick Answer
Iron is produced by reducing iron ore with carbon monoxide at very high temperatures. The furnace also produces molten slag that removes many impurities.
The Full Story
In a blast furnace, iron ore such as hematite is heated with coke and limestone. Coke burns to make carbon monoxide, which removes oxygen from the iron oxide and leaves molten iron behind. Limestone helps form slag, which traps impurities like silica. The process has been central to steelmaking since the Industrial Revolution and is still widely used today. While modern steel production may use additional steps, the blast furnace remains a classic example of large-scale chemistry and metallurgy.
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