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Difficulty: MediumIron: Blast Furnace Extraction, Rusting Prevention, and Chemical Compounds

During the industrial extraction of iron from hematite (Fe2O3\text{Fe}_2\text{O}_3) in the blast furnace, which chemical species acts as the primary reducing agent responsible for converting the iron ore to iron in the upper region of the furnace?

  1. Carbon(II) oxide (CO\text{CO})Answer
  2. B
    Solid carbon (C\text{C})
  3. C
    Carbon(IV) oxide (CO2\text{CO}_2)
  4. D
    Calcium oxide (CaO\text{CaO})

Answer

Carbon(II) oxide (CO\text{CO})
In the blast furnace, carbon(II) oxide (CO\text{CO}) gas is produced when carbon dioxide reacts with red-hot coke. Because it is a gas, carbon(II) oxide thoroughly mixes with and reduces the solid hematite (Fe2O3\text{Fe}_2\text{O}_3) to iron in the upper, cooler region of the furnace.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the chemical reactions occurring in the blast furnace.
Coke burns in oxygen to form CO2\text{CO}_2, which then reacts with excess hot coke to produce CO\text{CO}: CO2(g)+C(s)→2CO(g)\text{CO}_2(g) + \text{C}(s) \rightarrow 2\text{CO}(g).
Gaseous CO\text{CO} is generated to serve as the gaseous reducing agent.
2
Determine which species reduces hematite in the upper zone (400°C – 700°C).
Gaseous carbon(II) oxide reduces Fe2O3\text{Fe}_2\text{O}_3: Fe2O3(s)+3CO(g)→2Fe(s)+3CO2(g)\text{Fe}_2\text{O}_3(s) + 3\text{CO}(g) \rightarrow 2\text{Fe}(s) + 3\text{CO}_2(g).
Gaseous CO\text{CO} provides intimate surface contact with the solid ore compared to solid coke.

Key Concept

Blast furnace reduction of iron ore by carbon(II) oxide gas
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Topics

Iron: Blast Furnace Extraction, Rusting Prevention, and Chemical Compounds

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