Bessemer Process

Definition

The Bessemer Process is a method for mass-producing steel by blasting compressed air through molten iron to remove impurities.

Analogy

Think of the Bessemer process as a super-efficient car wash. Your car (iron) goes in dirty and comes out clean (steel) because of high-pressure water jets (compressed air) that blast away all the dirt and grime (impurities).

Related terms

Industrial Revolution: A period from 1760 to 1840 when major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, and transport had a profound effect on socioeconomic conditions. It's like when our town got its first automated car wash - it changed everything!

Pig Iron: High-carbon iron made by reducing iron ore in a blast furnace; it’s like your car before it gets washed.

Steel Industry: An industry dedicated to producing steel, an alloy of iron and carbon; this would be all the different types of car washes available - some are better than others!