Log out Go to App
Go to App

Learning Materials

Features

Discover

Chapter 21: Problem 10

Briefly discuss the steelmaking process.

Short Answer

Expert verified
Steel making involves the preparation of raw materials such as iron ore, limestone and coke, which are smelted in a blast furnace to produce pig iron. Pig iron is then blasted with oxygen in a Basic Oxygen Furnace to reduce impurities. Finally, the steel undergoes refinement for desired chemical composition and is cast into its final product form.

Step by step solution

01

Raw Material Preparation

The initial step of steelmaking is preparing the raw materials. It typically includes iron ore, coal or coke, and limestone. Iron ore provides the basic element iron. Coal or coke are fuel sources that also provide carbon, while limestone acts as a flux which removes impurities.
02

Smelting

The raw materials are then put into a blast furnace. With the addition of heat, the iron ore is reduced to liquid iron, also known as ‘pig iron’, and the limestone helps in eliminating waste substances, forming a waste product called slag.
03

Basic Oxygen Furnace (BOF)

The pig iron is still impure, so it is transferred to a Basic Oxygen Furnace (BOF). In here, oxygen is blasted into the pig iron. The oxygen combines with carbon in the pig iron to form carbon dioxide, hence removing the impurities.
04

Refinement

Lastly, the steel is refined to ensure the desired chemical composition and temperature are achieved. It is then continuously cast into long slabs or billets that can be shaped into the finished steel product, like beams, plates or coils.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Start your free trial

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with Vaia!

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

Why is potassium usually not prepared electrolytically from one of its salts?

Write balanced equations for the following reactions: (a) the heating of aluminum carbonate; (b) the reaction between \(\mathrm{AlCl}_{3}\) and \(\mathrm{K} ;\) (c) the reaction between solutions of \(\mathrm{Na}_{2} \mathrm{CO}_{3}\) and \(\mathrm{Ca}(\mathrm{OH})_{2}\)

Starting with rutile \(\left(\mathrm{TiO}_{2}\right),\) explain how you would obtain pure titanium metal. (Hint: First convert \(\mathrm{TiO}_{2}\) to \(\mathrm{TiCl}_{4} .\) Next, reduce \(\mathrm{TiCl}_{4}\) with \(\mathrm{Mg}\). Look up physical properties of \(\mathrm{TiCl}_{4}, \mathrm{Mg},\) and \(\mathrm{MgCl}_{2}\) in a chemistry handbook.)

Starting with aluminum, describe with balanced equations how you would prepare (a) \(\mathrm{Al}_{2} \mathrm{Cl}_{6}\) (b) \(\mathrm{Al}_{2} \mathrm{O}_{3}\) (c) \(\mathrm{Al}_{2}\left(\mathrm{SO}_{4}\right)_{3}\) (d) \(\mathrm{NH}_{4} \mathrm{Al}\left(\mathrm{SO}_{4}\right)_{2} \cdot 12 \mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O}\)

The following are two reaction schemes involving magnesium. Scheme I: When magnesium burns in oxygen, a white solid (A) is formed. A dissolves in \(1 M \mathrm{HCl}\) to give a colorless solution (B). Upon addition of \(\mathrm{Na}_{2} \mathrm{CO}_{3}\) to \(\mathrm{B},\) a white precipitate is formed(C). On heating, C decomposes to \(D\) and a colorless gas is generated (E). When \(\mathrm{E}\) is passed through limewater [an aqueous suspension of \(\left.\mathrm{Ca}(\mathrm{OH})_{2}\right], \underline{\mathrm{a}}\) white precipitate appears (F). Scheme II:Magnesium reacts with \(1 M \mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{SO}_{4}\) to produce a colorless solution (G). Treating G with an excess of NaOH produces a white precipitate \((\mathrm{H}) . \mathrm{H}\) dissolves in \(1 M \mathrm{HNO}_{3}\) to form a colorless solution. When the solution is slowly evaporated, a white solid (I) appears. On heating I, a brown gas is given off. Identify \(\mathrm{A}-\mathrm{I}\) and write equations representing the reactions involved.
See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Chemistry Textbooks

Organic Chemistry

Read Explanation

Kinetics

Read Explanation

The Earths Atmosphere

Read Explanation

Ionic and Molecular Compounds

Read Explanation

Inorganic Chemistry

Read Explanation

Chemical Analysis

Read Explanation
View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.

Sign-up for free