Iron oxide and its production from mineral raw materials

Each person meets at the conduct of his household with such a phenomenon as rust. He knows that this is the result of oxidation of iron.

How is rust formed?

Any metal product contains a certain amount of iron element: steel, ligature, etc. It participates in many technological processes for obtaining various metals. Elements of iron are contained in the earth's crust. This metal is added during the production of many types of products, and it is almost impossible to completely get rid of it, and in some cases it is not necessary. This element, being present in a metal product, is oxidized with time by the action of air, moisture, water, and as a result, iron oxide 3 is formed on the surface. Of course, the product is covered with a protective layer, but it is easily disturbed by subjecting it to any technical impact from the side.

Basic properties

Iron oxide is a very ductile silver metal. It is well suited to many types of machining: forging, rolling. The ability to dissolve many elements in itself has found wide application in the production of many alloys. This chemical element interacts with practically all diluted acids, forming compounds of appropriate valence. But in concentrated acids it behaves very passively. Pure iron is obtained by the technical treatment of minerals, in which iron oxide is mainly present.

Connections

Iron forms compounds of two series: 2-valence and 3-valence compounds. Each of them characterizes its oxide. Iron compounds are formed by dissolution in acids. The salts of iron 3 are highly hydrolyzed, so they have a yellowish-brown color, although the element itself is colorless. Iron compounds are widely used in metallurgy as reducing agents, in the national economy in pest control, in the textile industry, etc. Anhydrous iron oxide 2 is obtained from oxide 3 by reduction as a black powder, while the production of iron oxide 3 occurs by calcination of iron hydroxide 3. Oxides form the basis for the production of iron acid salts. There are also little-known compounds of this acid and a compound with a valence of +6. When ferrite 3 is fused, ferrites and ferrates are formed, new compounds that have not yet been studied very well.

The prevalence in nature

The described element and its compounds are very widespread in nature. In the form of red, brown iron ore, iron oxide 3 is found, in the form of a magnetic iron ore - Fe3O4. To produce sulfuric acid , iron pyrite (sulfide) is used. Oxides are the main source of steel and cast iron. Steel and cast iron have approximately the same composition, the only difference being the carbon content. Iron alloys containing less than 2.14% of carbon are called steels, and more than 2.14% are cast iron. This distribution is not suitable for complex steels, such as alloyed ones, because they have a more complex composition and are characterized by the presence of additional elements.