Question

Indicate the temperature at which carbon can be used as a reducing agent for FeO.

Answer 1

1. Carbon can be used as a reducing agent for FeO at temperatures above approximately 1073 K (800°C).
2. This is because above this temperature, carbon's oxidation to CO is thermodynamically favorable to reduce FeO to Fe.
3. At temperatures below 1073 K, carbon is not an effective reducing agent for FeO.
4. This fact is supported by the Ellingham diagram showing Gibbs free energy changes for these reactions.

Thus, carbon reduces FeO effectively at or above 1073 K (800°C) in metallurgical processes like in a blast furnace.