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Film summary
For centuries, humans have been extracting metals from molten ores. Today, the basic technique remains the same, but how does extraction work?Key facts
- Metals can be extracted from rocks if they are heated with charcoal.
- A redox reaction is a process that involves reduction and oxidation.
- Reduction is the removal of oxygen, and this requires a form of carbon and a heat source.
- Iron is extracted within a blast furnace, in which highly exothermic reactions take place.
Transcript
Since ancient times, we've known that if rocks containing natural minerals are heated with charcoal, pure metals can be extracted.
We now know that this process involves chemical changes called reduction and oxidation - a redox reaction.
Redox Reaction
Iron occurs naturally in the Earth's crust as a red mineral, hematite - …
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