iron

• Production of the reducing agent

  1. Coke burns in oxygen (from hot air) to produce carbon dioxide

  2. Carbon dioxide reacts with more coke (carbon) to produce the reducing agent, which is carbon monoxide
• Reducing agent


  Carbon monoxide
• Reduction of iron ore to iron

  Iron(III) oxide reacts with carbon monoxide to produce molten iron and carbon dioxide
• Carbon (and carbon monoxide) will reduce iron(II) oxide to iron
• Loss of oxygen is reduction
• Carbon monoxide is oxidised because it gains oxygen
• Iron(III) ions (Fe³) gain electrons (Fe+3e Fe), and gain of electrons is reduction
• Removal of acidic impurities

  1. Calcium carbonate thermally decomposes to form calcium oxide and carbon dioxide

  2. Acidic silicon dioxide impurities react with calcium oxide to form molten slag (calcium silicate, CaSiO)
• Impurities occurs in two reactions