Iron is extracted from iron ore through a reduction process, primarily involving heating the ore with a reducing agent. The most common method uses a furnace and carbon, often in the form of charcoal, to remove oxygen from the iron oxide.
Here’s a breakdown of the process:
- Heating with Charcoal: The iron ore is heated inside a furnace in the presence of charcoal.
- Reduction: The carbon from the incomplete combustion of charcoal reduces the iron oxides into metallic iron. According to the provided reference, the furnace’s temperature and charcoal ratio must be carefully controlled to prevent the iron from absorbing too much carbon.
