Question

Blast furnaces extract pure iron from the iron(III) oxide in iron ore in a two step sequence. In the first step, carbon and oxygen react to form carbon monoxide: 2C(s)+O2(g)→2CO(g) In the second step, iron(III) oxide and carbon monoxide react to form iron and carbon dioxide: Fe2O3(s)+3CO(g)→2Fe(s)+3CO2(g) Write the net chemical equation for the production of iron from carbon, oxygen and iron(III) oxide. Be sure your equation is balanced.

Answer 1

Answer:

2 C(s) + O₂(g) + Fe₂O₃(s) + CO(g) →  2 Fe(s) + 3 CO₂(g)

Explanation:

This reaction has 2 steps:

Step 1: 2 C(s) + O₂(g) → 2 CO(g)

Step 2: Fe₂O₃(s) + 3 CO(g) → 2 Fe(s) + 3 CO₂(g)

To get the net chemical equation we need to add both steps, side to side.

2 C(s) + O₂(g) + Fe₂O₃(s) + 3 CO(g) → 2 CO(g) + 2 Fe(s) + 3 CO₂(g)

Then, we have to take out those substances that are repeated on both sides. In this case, we take out 2 moles of CO(g) on each side.

2 C(s) + O₂(g) + Fe₂O₃(s) + CO(g) →  2 Fe(s) + 3 CO₂(g)

This is the net chemical equation and it is balanced.

Answer 2

Answer:

The net chemical equation for the production of iron from carbon, oxygen and iron(III) oxide.

$6C(s)+3O_2(g) +2Fe_2O_3(s)\rightarrow 4Fe(s)+6CO_2(g)$

Explanation:

Step 1: Carbon and oxygen combines together to form carbon monoxide gas.

$2C(s)+O_2(g)\rightarrow 2CO(g)$..[1]

Step 2: Carbon monoxide gas formed in previous step is allowed to recat with iron(III) oxide to obtain iron as a product along with carbon dioxide gas

$Fe_2O_3(s)+3CO(g)\rightarrow 2Fe(s)+3CO_2(g)$..[2]

The net equation of the process can be written by adding both reactions:

3 × [1 ] + 2 × [2]

$6C(s)+3O_2(g) +2Fe_2O_3(s)+6CO(g)\rightarrow 6CO(g)+4Fe(s)+6CO_2(g)$

Cancelling out common compound son both sides, we get the net chemical equation for the production of iron from carbon, oxygen and iron(III) oxide.

$6C(s)+3O_2(g) +2Fe_2O_3(s)\rightarrow 4Fe(s)+6CO_2(g)$