Question

Blast furnaces extract pure iron from the iron(III) oxide in iron ore in a two step sequence. In the first step, carbon and oxygen react to form carbon monoxide: 2C(s)+O2(g)→2CO(g) In the second step, iron(III) oxide and carbon monoxide react to form iron and carbon dioxide: Fe2O3(s)+3CO(g)→2Fe(s)+3CO2(g) Write the net chemical equation for the production of iron from carbon, oxygen and iron(III) oxide. Be sure your equation is balanced.

Answer 1

The net chemical equation for the production of iron from carbon, oxygen and iron(III) oxide.

`6C(s)+3O_2(g) +2Fe_2O_3(s)\rightarrow 4Fe(s)+6CO_2(g)`

Step-by-step explanation:

Step 1: Carbon and oxygen combines together to form carbon monoxide gas.

`2C(s)+O_2(g)\rightarrow 2CO(g)`..[1]

Step 2: Carbon monoxide gas formed in previous step is allowed to recat with iron(III) oxide to obtain iron as a product along with carbon dioxide gas

`Fe_2O_3(s)+3CO(g)\rightarrow 2Fe(s)+3CO_2(g)`..[2]

The net equation of the process can be written by adding both reactions:

3 × [1 ] + 2 × [2]

`6C(s)+3O_2(g) +2Fe_2O_3(s)+6CO(g)\rightarrow 6CO(g)+4Fe(s)+6CO_2(g)`

Cancelling out common compound son both sides, we get the net chemical equation for the production of iron from carbon, oxygen and iron(III) oxide.

`6C(s)+3O_2(g) +2Fe_2O_3(s)\rightarrow 4Fe(s)+6CO_2(g)`