Question

The main reactions occurring in blast furnace during extraction of iron from haematite are

• A. $F{e}_2{O}_3+3CO\to 2Fe+3C{O}_2$
• B. $FeO+Si{O}_2\to FeSi{O}_3$
• C. $F{e}_2{O}_3+3C\to 2Fe+3CO$
• D. $CaO+Si{O}_2\to CaSi{O}_3$

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

$F{e}_2{O}_3+3C\to 2Fe+3CO,$ reaction does occur in the blast furnace at temperatures above 1123 K when almost all the $F{e}_2{O}_3$ has already been reduced to Fe. Hence, it is not the main reaction. $CaC{O}_3$ decomposes around 1123 K to give $CaO$ .Since, below this temperature, $FeO$ has already been reduced to Fe. So, $FeO$ does not combine with $Si{O}_2$ to form slag, $FeSi{O}_3$ . Main reactions which occur in the blast furnace are $F{e}_2{O}_3+3CO\to 2Fe+3C{O}_2$ $CaO+Si{O}_2\to CaSi{O}_3$