Practicing Success

Target Exam

CUET

Subject

Chemistry

Chapter

Inorganic: General Principles and Processes of Isolation of Elements

Question:

Case: Read the passage and answer the following questions

A blast furnace is a type of metallurgical furnace used for smelting to produce industrial metals, generally pig iron, but also others such as lead or copper. Blast refers to the combustion air being "forced" or supplied above atmospheric pressure. In a blast furnace, fuel, ores, and flux are continuously supplied through the top of the furnace, while a hot blast of air is blown into the lower section of the furnace through a series of pipes called tuyeres, so that the chemical reactions take place throughout the furnace as the material falls downward. The end products are usually molten metal and slag phases tapped from the bottom, and waste gases exiting from the top of the furnace.

What is the purpose of adding coke in blast furnace reaction?
Options:
To remove impurities
Used as a source of iron
To convert the iron ore to metallic iron.
None of these
Correct Answer:
To convert the iron ore to metallic iron.
Explanation:
Metallurgical coke, along with iron ore and limestone, is layered into a blast furnace to convert the iron ore to metallic iron. Coke, which is mostly carbon, reacts with the blast air to produce carbon monoxide, which, in turn, reacts with the iron oxide to produce carbon dioxide and metallic iron.