The World Archive: info iron

Perfect 👍 — next in **periodic table order** is **Iron (Fe, atomic number 26).** Iron is a **transition metal** and one of the most abundant metals in the Earth’s crust. It does **not occur free** naturally, except in some meteorites. Iron is mainly extracted from **iron ores** such as **hematite (Fe₂O₃), magnetite (Fe₃O₄), limonite (FeO(OH)),** and **siderite (FeCO₃)**. Extraction focuses on **reduction of iron oxides**. Here are the **20 most common methods of extracting Iron**: --- # **20 Most Common Methods of Extracting Iron** ### **A. Industrial / Large-Scale Extraction** 1. **Blast Furnace Reduction (Fe₂O₃ + C → Fe + CO)** – Main industrial method. 2. **Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) / Sponge Iron Process** – Uses natural gas or coal to reduce iron oxides at lower temperatures. 3. **Open Hearth Process (Historic, Pig Iron → Steel)** – Rare today. 4. **Bessemer Process (Historic Steel Conversion)** – Converts pig iron to steel; not primary extraction. 5. **Electric Arc Furnace Smelting of Scrap or Ore** – Used for steelmaking; minor iron extraction. 6. **Carbothermic Reduction of Iron Ore (Fe₂O₃ + C → Fe)** – Basis for blast furnace chemistry. --- ### **B. Chemical / Laboratory Methods** 7. **Reduction of Iron Oxides with Hydrogen Gas (Fe₂O₃ + H₂ → Fe + H₂O)** – Laboratory or DRI route. 8. **Aluminothermic Reduction of Fe₂O₃ (Fe₂O₃ + 2Al → 2Fe + Al₂O₃)** – Thermite process; specialty applications. 9. **Reduction of FeCl₃ with Alkali Metals (Na/K)** – Laboratory preparation of iron metal. 10. **Electrolytic Reduction of Iron Salts** – Lab-scale electrolysis of Fe²⁺/Fe³⁺ solutions. 11. **Reduction of FeO/Fe₃O₄ with Carbon Monoxide** – Industrial intermediate step in blast furnace. 12. **Reduction of Iron Carbonates (FeCO₃) with Heat + Carbon** – Produces Fe and CO₂; minor lab method. --- ### **C. Extraction from Ores / Slags** 13. **Magnetohydrodynamic Smelting of Magnetite** – Experimental or pilot industrial method. 14. **Roasting of Sulfide Ores (Pyrite FeS₂ → Fe₂O₃ + SO₂)** – Prepares ore for reduction. 15. **Leaching Iron Ores with Acids (HCl/H₂SO₄)** – Produces Fe²⁺/Fe³⁺ solutions for lab or specialty applications. 16. **Hydrometallurgical Extraction from Laterites** – Acid leaching of Fe-rich laterites. 17. **Recovery from Industrial Slag (FeO-rich slag)** – Recycling iron from steelmaking byproducts. --- ### **D. Specialized / Experimental Methods** 18. **Electrochemical Deposition from Iron Salt Solutions** – Produces iron coatings or metal. 19. **Plasma Reduction of Iron Oxides** – Experimental high-purity method. 20. **Solar-Thermal Carbothermic Reduction** – Experimental renewable energy reduction of Fe₂O₃. --- ✅ **Summary:** * **Main industrial method:** Blast furnace reduction of iron oxides with coke → pig iron → steel. * **Alternative industrial:** Direct reduced iron (DRI) from natural gas or coal. * **Laboratory/experimental:** Aluminothermic, hydrogen reduction, electrolysis, plasma, solar-thermal. * **Chemical steps:** Roasting + leaching used for specialty or lab extractions. --- Next in periodic order is **Cobalt (Co, atomic number 27).** Do you want me to continue with **20 extraction methods for Cobalt**?