What is the Difference Between Iron Ore and Iron?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The main difference between iron ore and iron lies in the process of extraction and the purity of the metal. Iron ore is a mineral substance that contains iron in the form of iron oxides, such as magnetite (Fe3O4) and hematite (Fe2O3). It is the primary source of iron for the world's iron and steel industries. Iron, on the other hand, is an element found in the Earth's crust and is the most common element on our planet.
Iron ore undergoes a refining process to remove the oxygen and obtain pure iron. There are two primary methods for producing iron from iron ore:
- Blast Furnaces: Iron ore is heated with carbon (coke) in blast furnaces, where the oxygen is removed and iron is produced. The iron produced in blast furnaces is called pig iron. Pig iron is mostly used in the production of steels and other alloys.
- Direct Reduction: Iron ore is heated at high temperatures in the presence of coal, which removes oxygen from the iron ore. The iron produced through this method is called sponge iron.
In summary, here are the differences between iron ore and iron:
- Iron ore is a naturally occurring mineral containing iron oxides.
- Iron is an element found in the Earth's crust.
- Iron ore undergoes a refining process to produce pure iron.
- Two primary methods for producing iron from iron ore are blast furnaces and direct reduction.
Comparative Table: Iron Ore vs Iron
Iron ore and iron are the two forms of iron that are found in nature. Iron ore is the mineral form of iron, while iron refers to the pure element. Here are the key differences between iron ore and iron:
| Iron Ore | Iron |
|---|---|
| Iron ore is the raw material used to make pig iron, which is one of the main raw materials to make steel. | Iron, when extracted from iron ore, is used in various applications, such as structural and constructional materials, and as utensils in many parts of the world. |
| Iron ores are rocks and minerals from which metallic iron can be economically extracted. They usually contain iron oxides and vary in color from dark grey, bright yellow, or deep purple to rusty red. | Iron is a metallic element found in nature and is the fourth most abundant element on Earth. |
| Iron ores make up nearly 5% of the Earth's crust, and when we consider both the crust as well as the inner core, iron and its ores make up about 35% of the mass of the Earth. | Iron is not found independently in nature but in the form of its oxides under the surface of the Earth; these oxides are called iron ores. |
| Iron ore is more abundant in nature than pure iron. | Iron is the pure element, which can be extracted from iron ores through various processes, such as reduction with carbon (coke) in blast furnaces or direct reduction. |
In summary, iron ore is a mineral form of iron found in nature, while iron is the pure element extracted from iron ores. Iron ores are more abundant in nature than pure iron, and they are the primary raw material used to produce steel. Iron, in turn, has various applications in everyday life, such as construction, transportation, and cookware.
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