Blast furnace formula basics

Raw materials

Coke = Carbon (C)

Iron ore (haematite) = Iron oxide = Fe₂O₃ (Press here to remember this formula)

Reaction basics

Iron ore + Carbon monoxide       →           Iron + Carbon dioxide

Fe₂O₃ + CO                                     →           Fe + CO₂

This is not balanced. Can we balance it?

Putting a 3 in front of the carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide will balance both the carbon and oxygen on each side of the equation.

Fe₂O₃ + 3CO       →           Fe + 3CO₂

Then, we need to balance the iron by adding a 2.

Fe₂O₃ + 3CO       →           2Fe + 3CO₂