The most prominent example is the thermite reaction between iron oxides and aluminium to produce iron itself: Fe 2 O 3 + 2 Al → 2 Fe + Al 2 O 3 This specific reaction is however not relevant to the most important application of aluminothermic reactions, the production of ferroalloys.

The reaction of iron (III) oxide and aluminum is initiated by heat released from a small amount "starter mixture". This reaction is an oxidation-reduction reaction, a single replacement reaction, producing great quantities of heat (flame and sparks) and a stream of molten iron and aluminum oxide which pours out of a hole in the bottom of the.

The reaction is very exothermic! Everyone must stand back! Keep away from all possible flammable materials including papers, backpacks, projector screens. Chemicals and Solutions Thermite and thermite starter: our thermite is called black powder thermite (Iron (II,III) oxide, while the starter is red thermite (Iron (II) oxide).