News
17th December 2019

Extracting iron on a match head

Angie, Jodie and Eleanor, all members of our Chemistry Society (ChemSoc), recently undertook a micro-scale reduction of iron (III) oxide, commonly known as haematite ore, or sometimes rust. By using a match as a source of carbon, they were able to replicate the inner workings of a blast furnace (below) using simple lab apparatus. 

Dampened match head is coated in iron (III) oxide	Match is ignited and carbon from the match is converted to carbon dioxide

Click here for a pdf slideshow explaining the chemistry