he Blast Furna

SOME IMPORTANT TERMSNOTEMinerals: A solid element or compound which occurs naturally

in the Earth's crust is called a mineral.
Ore: A mineral from which metals can be extracted profitably is
called a metal ore. Profitable extraction means that the cost of
getting the metal out of the ore is sufficiently less than the amount
of money made by selling the metal. So All Ores Are Minerals
But All Minerals Are Not Ores.
The most common metal ores are oxides and sulphides. Metals
are obtained from their ores by reduction.

What is a Blast furnace??

It

is a tall cylindrical furnace

made of steel.
It is lined inside with fire
bricks.
It is narrow at the top and
has an arrangement for the
introduction of ore and outlet
for waste gases.
Heated with help of Hot
Gases.

What are the functions of a Blast

Furnace???
The function of a
blast furnace is to
reduce and convert
iron oxides into
liquid iron called
"hot metal".

The blast furnace is

a huge, steel stack
lined with
refractory brick.
Iron ore, coke and
limestone are put
into the top, and
preheated air is

Steps involved in Blast furnace -.

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Ahan M R ,10-B

Steps of Iron Extraction in Blast

furnace-

Step 1-Insert iron ore, limestone, and

coke into blast furnace.
Step 2-Coke reacts with oxygen and
forms carbon dioxide- C(s)+O2(g) -->
CO2(g).
Step 3-Limestone decomposes and forms
another carbon dioxide- CaCO3(s) -->
CO2(g)+CaO(s).
10-B

Ahan M R

Steps of Iron Extraction in Blast

furnace Step 4-Carbon dioxide produced in
the first 2 reactions reacts with
excess coke and forms carbon
monoxide-CO2(g)+C(s) --> 2CO(g).
Step 5-Carbon monoxide reduces
iron ore and produces molten iron3CO(g)+Fe2O3(s) --> 2Fe(l)
+3CO2(g).
10-B

Ahan M R

Steps of Iron Extraction in Blast

furnace Step 6-The excess limestone from the
second reaction reacts with the sand
(coming from minerals in iron ore) and
forms calcium silicate (slag) CaO(s)
+SiO(s) --> CaSiO3(l).
Step 7-Slag and molten iron are drained
from the bottom of the furnace and gas
produced exits through holes in the top of
the furnace
10-B

Ahan M R

SUMMARY Step 1 -

Insert iron ore, limestone, and coke into blast furnace.

Step 2 -

Coke reacts with oxygen and forms carbon dioxide- C(s)+O2(g) --> CO2(g).

Step
Step 33 -Step 4 carbon

Limestone
Limestone decomposes
decomposes and
and forms
forms another
another carbon
carbon dioxidedioxide- CaCO3(s)
CaCO3(s) -->
--> CO2(g)+CaO(s)
CO2(g)+CaO(s)

Carbon dioxide produced in the first 2 reactions reacts with excess coke and forms
mono xide-CO2(g)+C(s) --> 2CO(g).

Step 5 -

Carbon monoxide reduces iron ore and produces molten iron- 3CO(g)+Fe2O3(s) -->
2Fe(l)+3CO2(g).

Step 6 minerals

The excess limestone from the second reaction reacts with the sand (coming from
in iron ore) and forms calcium silicate (slag) -CaO(s)+SiO(s) --> CaSiO3(l).

Slag and molten iron are drained from the bottom of the furnace and gas produced
exits through holes in the top of the furnace .
Step 7 -

Why does Iron have to be extracted

in a Blast Furnace???
Iron has to be extracted by the blast
furnace because it contains mud
,clay ,minerals , mixture of other
metals and some unwanted materials.
In the furnace ,the iron is be
displaced by carbon.
This is more efficient method than
electrolysis because it is more cost
effective.

1. HOW DOES A BLAST

FURNACE LOOK???

2. WHAT KIND OF CHEMICAL

REACTIONS TAKE PLACE IN A
BLAST FURNACE???
LETS FIND IT OUT !!!

The Method
Three substances are needed to enable to extraction
of iron from its ore. The combined mixture is called
the charge:
Iron ore, haematite - often contains sand with iron
oxide, Fe2O3.
Limestone (calcium carbonate).
Coke - mainly carbon
The charge is placed a giant chimney called a blast
furnace. The blast furnace is around 30 metres high
and lined with fireproof bricks. Hot air is blasted
through the bottom.

Several reactions take place before the

iron is finally produced...
Oxygen in the air reacts with coke to
give carbon dioxide:
C(s) + O

2(g)

CO2(g)

The limestone breaks down to form

carbon dioxide:
CaCO3(s) CO2

(g)

+ CaO(s)

Carbon dioxide produced in 1 + 2

react with more coke to produce
carbon monoxide:

The carbon monoxide reduces the iron

in the ore to give molten iron:
3CO(g) + Fe2O3(s) 2Fe(l) + 3CO2(g)
The limestone from 2, reacts with the
sand to form slag (calcium silicate):
CaO(s) + SiO(s) CaSiO3(l)

Products formed Both the slag and iron are drained from the
bottom of the furnace.
The slag is mainly used to build roads.
The iron whilst molten is poured into moulds
and left to solidify - this is called cast iron and is
used to make railings and storage tanks.
The rest of the iron is used to make steel.

COMMERCIAL FORMS OF IRONThere are three major commercial forms of Iron.

They differ in their carbon content.
1. Cast Iron (or Pig Iron)
It contains 2-5% Carbon along with traces of
other impurities like Sulphur, Phosphorus,
Manganese etc.
2. Wrought Iron
It is the purest form of Iron and contains carbon
to the extent of 0.25%.
3. Steel
It contains 0.5 to 1.5 % of carbon along with
varying amount of other elements.