Question

Which of the following statements are true with respect to the production of iron?

• A. The oxide ore is primarily reduced to iron by solid coke according to the reaction
• B. The oxide ore reduced largely by Carbon monoxide
• C. Major silica impurities are removed as calcium silicate slag by addition of the fluxing agent limestone.
• D. The silicate slag is used in manufacture of cement

Answer 1

Answer: (B), (C), (D)

The correct options are
B

The oxide ore reduced largely by Carbon monoxide

C

Major silica impurities are removed as calcium silicate slag by addition of the fluxing agent limestone.

D

The silicate slag is used in manufacture of cement

These reactions occur in the blast furnace

$F{e}_2{O}_3+3CO\to 2Fe+3C{O}_{2}F{e}_2{O}_3+CO\to 2Fe+3C{O}_{2}CaO+Si{O}_2\to CaSi{O}_3$

$F{e}_2{O}_3+3CO\to 2Fe+3C{O}_2$

1. A is not the correct option because oxide ore is predominantly reduced to iron by CO (Carbon monoxide) and not by coke. In the reduction zone, most of the reduction has takes place between 250 ${}^{0}C$– 700 ${}^{0}C$. In this temperature range, CO is a better reducing agent than Carbon (according to the Ellingham diagram) ${}^{0}C$