In the past, the extraction of iron from its ore was a difficult process, as the technology was not as advanced as it is now. Furnaces were made of clay and thus they could not attain a temperature higher …show more content…
In the reactivity series, carbon is more reactive than iron. (Metals) Although there are other elements more reactive than carbon, we use it to reduce iron because of its wide availability. In the blast furnace raw materials are inputted into the furnace to make the reaction occur. (Metals) Each of the four raw materials has a function in the process. Iron ore, which contains iron oxide, is the compound that contains the iron component. (Metals) Coke, which consists of carbon, ignites in air to produce heat, and reacts to make carbon monoxide, which is required to reduce iron oxide. (Metals) Calcium carbonate or limestone, a basic compound, reacts with the acid present in the iron and creates molten slag as a by-product. (Metals) Oxygen is the most important of the products since it helps the iron to burn and it also assists the carbon to form carbon monoxide that reacts with the iron ore to extract the iron from the ore into its impure form. …show more content…
As raw materials get mined and transported, the effects start taking place. (Adelena ) Due to mining of haematite, coke and limestone, a significant amount of land is lost. Pollution to the air is caused and noise pollution is created. (Spiegel, Jerry) In the procedure of extraction iron from its ore, numerous environmental aspects are affected. The atmosphere is significantly impacted. Harmful gases are released such as carbon dioxide, which is responsible for greenhouse emissions, poisonous gases such as carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide, which contributes towards acidic rain. (Spiegel, Jerry) Waste materials from are not always disposed properly. Instead, they are dumped. (Spiegel,