Final answer:
The production of iron from iron(III) oxide and carbon in a blast furnace is a reduction process, wherein iron is obtained by removing oxygen from the oxide, and carbon is oxidized to carbon dioxide.
Step-by-step explanation:
The production of iron from carbon, oxygen, and iron(III) oxide involves the chemical process known as reduction. In a high-temperature environment such as a blast furnace, iron(III) oxide reacts with carbon to form iron and carbon dioxide. This reaction can be represented by the chemical equation: 2Fe₂O₃ (s) + 3C (s) → 4Fe (s) + 3CO₂ (g). The removal of oxygen from iron(III) oxide to produce iron is what categorizes this process as reduction. It is essential to note however that while iron oxides are undergoing reduction, the carbon is simultaneously being oxidized to carbon dioxide. This illustrates that both oxidation and reduction reactions occur together; such paired reactions are referred to as redox reactions. Additionally, the metallurgy of iron involves the conversion of oxides like iron(III) oxide into pure metal inside a blast furnace, which highlights the importance of the reduction process in extracting metals from their ores.