IRON EXTRACTION-STEEL MAKING

10.4.1 The diagram shows a blast furnace.

waste gases

raw materials:
coke, C
iron ore, Fe2O3
limestone, CaCO3

(a) The following equations represent reactions which take place in the blast furnace.

A C + O2 → CO2
B CaCO3 → CaO + CO2
C CaO + SiO2 → CaSiO3
D CO2 + C → 2CO
E Fe2O3 + 3CO → 2Fe + 3CO2

(i) Which reaction is used to increase the temperature inside the blast furnace? ........... [1]

(ii) Which reaction is an example of thermal decomposition? ........... [1]

(iii) In which reaction is carbon both oxidised and reduced? ........... [1]

(iv) Which equation shows the removal of an impurity from the iron? ........... [1]

(v) Which equation shows the reaction of an acidic substance with a basic substance?

........... [1]

(b) Use the diagram of the blast furnace to help you answer these questions.

(i) What enters the blast furnace at X?

. ...................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) What leaves the blast furnace at Y?

. ...................................................................................................................................... [1]

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(iii) Name two waste gases that leave the blast furnace.

1. . ........................................................................................................................................

2. . ........................................................................................................................................
[2]

(c) The graph shows how the malleability of iron changes as the percentage of carbon in the iron
changes.

high

malleability

low
increasing percentage
of carbon

(i) Describe how the malleability of iron changes as the percentage of carbon changes.

. ............................................................................................................................................

. ...................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) Iron obtained from the blast furnace contains high levels of carbon.

Explain how the amount of carbon in the iron can be decreased.

. ............................................................................................................................................

. ............................................................................................................................................

. ...................................................................................................................................... [2]

[Total: 12]

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10.4.2 This question is about iron.

(a) Three of the raw materials added to a blast furnace used to extract iron from hematite are
coke, hematite and limestone.

Name one other raw material added to the blast furnace.

.............................................................................................................................................. [1]

(b) A series of reactions occurs in a blast furnace during the extraction of iron from hematite.

Describe these reactions.

Include:
● one chemical equation for the reduction of hematite
● one chemical equation for the formation of slag.

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(c) The iron extracted from hematite using a blast furnace is impure.

Identify the main impurity in this iron and explain how it is removed in the steel‑making process.

main impurity .............................................................................................................................

how it is removed .......................................................................................................................

....................................................................................................................................................

....................................................................................................................................................
[3]

[Total: 9]

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10.4.3 Iron is extracted from its ore using coke in a blast furnace.
waste gases

raw materials:
coke,
iron ore,
limestone

m
co
air air

s.
slag

e
molten iron

rc
(a) Name the ore of iron which is mainly iron(III) oxide.

u
.............................................................................................................................................. [1]
so
(b) Describe the reactions occurring in the blast furnace.
re
In your answer, include
m

● two reasons for using coke in the blast furnace,

● a chemical equation for the reduction of iron(III) oxide,
xa

● an explanation for using limestone in the blast furnace.

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te

....................................................................................................................................................
ar

....................................................................................................................................................
m

....................................................................................................................................................
.s

....................................................................................................................................................
w

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w

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w

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(c) (i) Describe the bonding in iron. Include a diagram in your answer.

m
. ............................................................................................................................................

co
. ...................................................................................................................................... [3]

s.
(ii) Use your diagram in (c)(i) to explain why iron is malleable.

. ............................................................................................................................................

e
rc
. ...................................................................................................................................... [2]

u
(iii) Iron containing a small amount of carbon is known as steel.

Explain why steel is less malleable than iron.

so
. ............................................................................................................................................
re
. ...................................................................................................................................... [2]
m
xa
te
ar
m
.s
w
w
w

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