What is the primary role of carbon in the extraction of iron from its ore?

What is the primary role of carbon in the extraction of iron from its ore?

Step 1: Understand that iron is found in nature as iron ore, which is mainly iron oxide.
Step 2: Know that iron oxide is a compound made of iron and oxygen.
Step 3: Learn that to extract iron from its ore, we need to remove the oxygen from iron oxide.
Step 4: Recognize that carbon is used in the extraction process, usually in the form of coke.
Step 5: Understand that carbon reacts with iron oxide at high temperatures in a furnace.
Step 6: Know that during this reaction, carbon takes the oxygen away from iron oxide, which is called reduction.
Step 7: Realize that after the reaction, we are left with pure iron and carbon dioxide gas.

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