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CAIE IGCSE Chemistry: Iron Extraction in a Blast Furnace Question Bank

Practise describing how hematite is converted to iron in a blast furnace using coke, limestone and carbon monoxide.

Syllabus
2026–2028
Course
Chemistry 0620

Exam points

  • name hematite, coke and limestone as blast furnace inputs and state their roles
  • explain how carbon dioxide is reduced to carbon monoxide, the reducing agent
  • describe slag formation from calcium oxide and silicon(IV) oxide impurity

9.6.2—Iron extraction from hematite in a question 1

[Maximum number: 6]

Iron ore contains iron(III) oxide, Fe2O3\mathrm{Fe}_{2} \mathrm{O}_{3}. A blast furnace is used to extract iron from Fe2O3\mathrm{Fe}_{2} \mathrm{O}_{3}.
Equations for some of the reactions in the blast furnace are shown.

equation \(1 \mathrm{C}+\mathrm{O}_{2} \rightarrow \mathrm{CO}_{2}\)

equation \(2 \mathrm{CaCO}_{3} \rightarrow \mathrm{CaO}+\mathrm{CO}_{2}\)

equation \(3 \quad \mathrm{CaO}+\mathrm{SiO}_{2} \rightarrow \mathrm{CaSiO}_{3}\)

Question (a)

(a)

Equation 1 shows the combustion of carbon in the blast furnace.

[ 2 ]

Question (i)

(i)

Name the substance which provides the carbon for this reaction.

[ 1 ]

Question (ii)

(ii)

State the purpose of the combustion of carbon in the blast furnace.

[ 1 ]

Question (b)

(b)

Iron(III) oxide, Fe2O3\mathrm{Fe}_{2} \mathrm{O}_{3}, in iron ore is converted to iron when it reacts with carbon monoxide, CO , in the blast furnace.

[ 1 ]

Question (i)

(i)

Describe how carbon monoxide is formed in the blast furnace.

[ 1 ]

Question (c)

(c)

State the type of reaction shown by equation 2 .

[ 1 ]

Question (d)

(d)

State:
- the chemical name of SiO2\mathrm{SiO}_{2}
- the common name given to CaSiO3\mathrm{CaSiO}_{3} when it is formed in the blast furnace.

[ 2 ]
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