Question

Differentiate between acidic and basic steel making process​

Answer 1

Answer:

In an acid process slag is acidic and the furnace lining has to be acidic to withstand the slag. Similarly in a basic process the slag contains excess basic oxide and the furnace lining should be basic in nature.

Answer 2

Answer:

There are several reactions in the iron and steel making processes which involve acids and bases. One of the raw materials which is fed into the Blast Furnace is limestone, an almost pure form of calcium carbonate. Limestone decomposes in the hot furnace to give calcium oxide, which is a base.

calcium carbonate → calcium oxide + carbon dioxide

CaCO3(s) → CaO(s) + CO2(g)

Calcium oxide joins with acidic impurities in the ore, to make a salt. The biggest impurity is silica, a weak acid, which combines with calcium oxide to make calcium silicate, a salt which is formed as a molten slag.