Question

(a) In the industrial production of iron, what is the reducing substance loaded into the blast furnace?

(b) In addition to furnishing the reducing power, what other function does this substance serve?

(c) What is the formula of the active reducing agent in the process?

(d) Write equations for the stepwise reduction of${\mathbf{Fe}}_{\mathbf{2}}{\mathbf{O}}_{\mathbf{3}}$ to iron in the furnace.

Short answer

(a) The reducing substance loaded into the blast furnace is coke.

(b) Coke acts as fuel to increase the temperature in the blast furnace and aids the production of iron.

(c) The chemical formula for the active reducing agent in the production of iron is carbon monoxide CO.

(d) The stepwise chemical reaction for the reduction of iron oxide to iron is given as,

$3{\text{Fe}}_2{\text{O}}_{3(\text{s})}+{\text{CO}}_{\left(\text{g}\right)}\to 2{\text{Fe}}_3{\text{O}}_{4(\text{s})}+{\text{CO}}_{2(\text{g})}$

${\text{Fe}}_3{\text{O}}_{4(\text{s})}+{\text{CO}}_{\left(\text{g}\right)}\to 3{\text{FeO}}_{\left(\text{s}\right)}+{\text{CO}}_{2(\text{g})}$

${\text{FeO}}_{\left(\text{s}\right)}+{\text{CO}}_{\left(\text{g}\right)}\to {\text{Fe}}_{\left(1\right)}+{\text{CO}}_{2(\text{g})}$

Step-by-step solution

Metallurgy of iron

The conversion of iron ore to iron metal involves a series of redox and acid-base reactions. The iron ore taken is usually hematite ${\mathbf{Fe}}_{\mathbf{2}}{\mathbf{O}}_{\mathbf{3}}$.

Step 2:Subpart (a)

Coke is loaded into the blast furnace as a reducing substance in the industrial production of iron.

Subpart (b)

Coke is used as a fuel in the blast furnace to help produce iron by raising the temperature. The following chemical reactions take place:

${\text{C}}_{\left(S\right)}{\text{+ CO}}_{2\left(g\right)}\to {\text{2CO}}_{\left(g\right)}$

${\text{FeO}}_{\left(S\right)}+{\text{CO}}_{\left(g\right)}\to {\text{Fe}}_{\left(1\right)}+{\text{CO}}_{2\left(g\right)}$

Coke acts as fuel to increase the temperature in the blast furnace and aids the production of iron.

Subpart (c)

The chemical formula for the active reducing agent in the production of iron is carbon monoxide CO.

Subpart (d)

The stepwise chemical reaction for the reduction of iron oxide to iron is given as,

$3{\text{Fe}}_2{\text{O}}_{3(\text{s})}+{\text{CO}}_{\left(\text{g}\right)}\to 2{\text{Fe}}_3{\text{O}}_{4(\text{s})}+{\text{CO}}_{2(\text{g})}$

${\text{Fe}}_3{\text{O}}_{4(\text{s})}+{\text{CO}}_{\left(\text{g}\right)}\to 3{\text{FeO}}_{\left(\text{s}\right)}+{\text{CO}}_{2(\text{g})}$

${\text{FeO}}_{\left(\text{s}\right)}+{\text{CO}}_{\left(\text{g}\right)}\to {\text{Fe}}_{\left(1\right)}+{\text{CO}}_{2(\text{g})}$