Which among the following is used as flux in the extraction of iron from oxide ores?
Which among the following is used as flux in the extraction of iron from oxide ores?
\(\mathrm{SiO}_2\)
\(\mathrm{CaCO}_3\)
\(\mathrm{CaO}\)
\(\mathrm{CaSiO}_3\)
Solution
Lime stone \(\left(\mathrm{CaCO}_3\right)\) used in the extraction of Fe from haematite in blast furnace get decomposed to \(\mathrm{CaO}\), which removes silicate impurity (gangue) of the ore as molten slag.
\(\begin{aligned}
& \mathrm{CaCO}_3 \xrightarrow{\Delta} \mathrm{CaO}+\mathrm{CO}_2 \\
& \mathrm{CaO}+\mathrm{SiO}_2 \xrightarrow{\Delta} \mathrm{CaSiO}_3
\end{aligned}\)