The process starts with rust, or ferric oxide, which can either be purchased or made. [Chase] chose to make his rust by soaking steel wool in a solution of saltwater and peroxide and heating the ...

Most transition elements react slowly with cold water, or not at all. Iron reacts with water and oxygen at room temperature to form hydrated iron(III) oxide, or rust.

In the blast furnace, it is so hot that carbon monoxide can be used, in place of carbon, to reduce the iron(III) oxide: iron(III) oxide + carbon monoxide → iron + carbon dioxide The blast ...