Blast furnaces extract pure iron from the iron(III) oxide in iron ore in a two step sequence. In the first step, carbon and oxygen react to form carbon monoxide:
2C(s)+O2(g)--->2CO(g)
In the second step, iron (III) oxide and carbon monoxide react to form iron and carbon dioxide:
Fe2O3(s)+3CO(g)--->2Fe(s)+3CO2(g)
Write the net chemical equation for the production of iron from carbon, oxygen, and iron (III) oxide. Be sure your equation is balanced.