The following represents a summary of the reaction which occur in the “Blast furnace”, leading to the production of molten iron.

Question

 (i) The following represents a summary of the reaction which occur in the “Blast furnace”, leading to the production of molten iron. 

Coke + O₂ ⟶ Gas Y 

Gas Y + Coke ⟶ Gas Z 

Gas Z + Iron oxide ⟶ Gas Y + Iron 

Identify the gases, Y and Z. Explain why gas Z is said to act as a reducing agent in the last step in the above equations. 

(ii) Calcium, Copper, Lead, Aluminium, Zinc, Chromium, Magnesium, Iron,. Choose the major metals from the list given above to make the following alloys: 

(a) Stainless steel. (b) Brass

Answer 1

(i) The gas Y, carbon dioxide and the gas Z, is carbon monoxide. The gas Z is a reducing agent because it removes oxygen from iron oxide and converts it into metallic iron and itself gets oxidized to carbon dioxide. 

(ii) (a) Iron, Chromium, (b) Zinc