Question

The smelting of ore in a blast furnace involves, which of the following process /(es)?

• A. Combustion
• B. Reduction
• C. Slag formation
• D. Sublimation

Answer 1

Answer: (A), (B), (C)

The correct options are
A

Combustion

B

Reduction

C

Slag formation

During the smelting of copper, coke is used as the fuel to keep the temperature in the furnace high. The mixture remains in the molten state. Obviously, the coke burns and at least partially forms carbon dioxide. Needless to say, the moisture present in the fuel in some form, gets eliminated. We can definitely make a case for some fuel burning and giving carbon dioxide, water vapour and heat energy. Thus combustion happens (some form of fuel burning happens).

During the smelting step:

$FeS+1.5O_2\to FeO+S{O}_2\uparrow$

$C{u}_{2}O+FeS\to C{u}_{2}S+FeO$

$FeO+Si{O}_2\to FeSi{O}_3\left(slag\right)$