During metallurgy of iron its, ore coke and limestone are added to the blast furnace. (a) What is the role of limestone? (b) Identify the reducing agent in the extraction of iron during the above process. (c) Identifly slag formed during the above process. (d) What are the different gases liberated in this process?

During metallurgy of iron its, ore coke and limestone are added to the

1.	During metallurgy of iron its, ore coke and limestone are added to the blast furnace. (a) What is the role of limestone? (b) Identify the reducing agent in the extraction of iron during the above process. (c) Identifly slag formed during the above process. (d) What are the different gases liberated in this process?
Answer» (a) Limestone `(CaCO_(3))` undergoes thermal decomposition and gives CaO and `CO_(2)`. CaO acts as a flux. (b) Carbon monoxide acts as a reducing agent: `FeO+COtoFe+CO_(2)` `Fe_(2)O_(3)+3COto+3CO_(2)` (c) CaO reacts with the impurity `SiO_(2)` and forms the slag `CaSiO_(3)`: `CaO+SiO_(2)toCaSiO_(3)` (d) `C+O_(2)toCO_(2)(g)` `CO_(2)+Cto2CO(g)` `CaCO_(3)toCaO+CO_(2)(g)` `FeO+COtoFe+CO_(2)(g)` `Fe_(2)O_(3)+3COto2Fe+3CO_(2)(g)` `CO_(2)` gas is liberated. CO gas is formed, but takes part in the process of erduction of `Fe_(2)O_3)` and forms `CO_(2)`.