COMEDK2021ChemistryGeneral Principles and Processes of Isolation of Metals
The reducing agent which is used to reduce iron oxide in blast furnace is
Options
- ACO
- Bcoke
- Csilica
- Dlime
Correct answer
A. CO
Step-by-step solution
In the blast furnace, iron oxides such as Fe₂O₃ are reduced to metallic iron. The process involves two main reducing agents: coke ( C ) and carbon monoxide ( CO ). Coke acts as the primary fuel and also reacts with oxygen to form CO₂ , which is then reduced by more coke to form CO according to the reaction C + CO₂ 2 CO . The carbon monoxide ( CO ) is the actual chemical reducing agent that reduces the iron oxides in the upper, cooler parts of the furnace, for example: Fe₂O₃ + 3 CO 2 Fe + 3 CO₂ . While coke is the s