Iron and Steel

Learning objectives:
•Know how iron oxide is reduced.
•Know the advantages of steel over iron.

Unscramble the following words:

IN OR SENILE TOM CUE RED
A CRAB FELT SUN (two words)
BACON INDEX ROOM (two words, a gas)
Blast furnace animation

3. Complete the labels on your diagram

4. Write balanced equations with state symbols
for
a) Carbon reacting with oxygen to form carbon dioxide.

b) Carbon dioxide reacting with carbon to form carbon

monoxide.
c) Carbon monoxide reacting with iron ore to form iron
and carbon dioxide.

Carbon – C Carbon dioxide – CO2

Carbon monoxide – CO Iron Oxide – Fe2O3
 C [s] + O2 [g] → CO2 [g]

CO2 [g] + C [s] → 2CO [g]

Fe2O3 [s] + 3CO [s] → 2Fe [l] + 3CO2 [g]

 Why is limestone used?
• The main impurity in the iron is sand
(Silicon dioxide, SiO2)
• In the furnace, the limestone undergoes
thermal decomposition to form calcium
oxide and carbon dioxide:
CaCO3 → CaO + CO2
The calcium oxide reacts with the sand to
form calcium silicate (slag).
CaO + SiO2 → CaSiO3
• The slag floats on top of the molten iron at
the bottom of the furnace.

• It is used for road foundations and railway

track ballast.