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

During the industrial extraction of iron in a blast furnace, hematite (Fe2O3\text{Fe}_2\text{O}_3) is reduced to molten iron in the upper reduction zone. Which chemical species serves as the chief reducing agent responsible for this reduction?

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

Answer

Carbon(II) oxide (CO\text{CO}) is the chief reducing agent in the upper reduction zone of the blast furnace.
In the upper, lower-temperature region of the blast furnace, ascending carbon(II) oxide (CO\text{CO}) gas chemically reduces hematite (Fe2O3\text{Fe}_2\text{O}_3) to iron, producing carbon(IV) oxide (CO2\text{CO}_2) gas as a byproduct.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the reactions occurring in the upper temperature zone (400∘C−700∘C400^\circ\text{C} - 700^\circ\text{C}) of the blast furnace.
Ascending carbon(II) oxide gas contacts descending solid hematite ore.
Gaseous carbon(II) oxide provides effective gas-solid contact necessary for chemical reduction.
2
Write the balanced chemical equation for the reduction of hematite.
Fe2O3(s)+3CO(g)→2Fe(l)+3CO2(g)\text{Fe}_2\text{O}_3(s) + 3\text{CO}(g) \rightarrow 2\text{Fe}(l) + 3\text{CO}_2(g)
Carbon(II) oxide removes oxygen from iron(III) oxide, reducing iron from the +3 oxidation state to metallic iron (0 oxidation state).

Key Concept

Iron Extraction in the Blast Furnace
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Topics

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

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