Test Your Knowledge on Iron Extraction
Have you just done a science lesson on iron extraction in a blast furnace? Complete this assessment quiz to test your knowledge!
How and where does iron occur naturally?
Iron ore occurs naturally as rocks underground in many countries around the world, including the US, Russia, Australia, Brazil, Sweden and Canada. It is mined using open cast mining.
Iron is dug up as ready-made saucepans
Extracted from plants like spinach
The Moon
Dug up or mined from the ground as rocks called ore
What is the name of the process where iron ore is concentrated before being turned into metal?
Correct answer is pelletisation. Pellets are small balls of iron ore used in the production of steel. They are made with technology that uses the powder that is generated during the ore extraction process, once considered waste.
Pelletisation
Electrolysis
Cracking
Oxidisation
3. What is the name of the structure used in the extraction of iron from iron ore?
Iron ore is converted to liquid iron in a blast furnace.
Factory
Battery
Blast Furnace
Power Station
What other compounds are needed in the extraction of iron from its ore?
Limestone and coke (made from coal) are needed for the reactions to happen.
Coal and limestone
Coca cola and cake
Sodium chloride and water
Graphite
What kind of reaction happens in the blast furnace where iron ore is turned into iron?
The pellets of iron are transported to a blast furnace, where the iron is extracted using a reduction reaction where limestone and coke (made from coal) react with heat to remove oxygen from the iron oxide in the iron ore.
Oxidation
Neutral
Reduction
No reaction takes place
Which of the following is NOT a reaction that happens in the furnace?
In the furnace impurities are removed by the calcium oxide combining with sand to form liquid slag or calcium silicate (not calcium chloride). This floats on top of the liquid iron.
Carbon + oxygen ---> carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide + carbon ---> carbon monoxide
Iron oxide + carbon monoxide ---> iron and carbon dioxide
Calcium oxide + silicon oxide ---> calcium chloride
What are the main waste gases from the blast furnace?
Carbon dioxide and nitrogen are the main gases emitted from a blast furnace.
Oxygen and water vapour
Nitrogen and methane
Water vapour
Carbon dioxide and nitrogen
Where is the largest factory in the UK where steel is processed into food packaging grade product?
The largest factory in the UK where steel is processed into food grade materials is in Llanelli and is called Trostre. Hot rolled steel is transported here and converted into food grade steel plate ready to be made into food packaging (cans).
Trostre, near Llanelli
Port Talbot
Leicester
Exeter
5. What process do you think would be better than mining iron from the ground?
Recycling uses much less energy as the iron ore does not have to travel far to be recycled. It emits far less carbon dioxide to the atmosphere and so is not contributing to climate change. It also encourages resource efficiency and the circular economy, meaning we are being more sustainable if we recycle.
Recycling iron at the end of its life
Throwing old iron away so it will rust
Burying iron underground so eventually it will turn to rock again
Just keep mining it - what's the problem!?
Has this lesson made you aware of the energy cost and climate change implications of iron and steel production?
No
Yes
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