Question
Magnesium oxide is used for the lining in steel making furnace because
A.
$$MgO$$ acts as an acidic flux to remove impurities of $$Si, P$$ and $$S$$
B.
$$MgO$$ acts as a basic flux to remove impurities of $$Si, P$$ and $$S$$
C.
$$MgO$$ acts as an oxidising agent to remove impurities of oxides
D.
$$MgO$$ does not react with any type of impurities
Answer :
$$MgO$$ acts as a basic flux to remove impurities of $$Si, P$$ and $$S$$
Solution :
$$MgO$$ acts as a basic flux to remove impurities of $$Si,P$$ and $$S$$ through slag formation.
\[\underset{\begin{smallmatrix}
\text{Basic} \\
\text{flux}
\end{smallmatrix}}{\mathop{MgO}}\,+\underset{\begin{smallmatrix}
\text{Acidic} \\
\text{impurities}
\end{smallmatrix}}{\mathop{Si{{O}_{2}}}}\,\to \underset{\text{Slag}}{\mathop{MgSi{{O}_{3}}}}\,\]
$$\eqalign{
& 3MgO + {P_2}{O_5} \to M{g_3}{\left( {P{O_4}} \right)_2} \cr
& MgO + S{O_2} \to MgS{O_3} \cr} $$