Carbon cannot reduce `Fe_(2)O_(3)` to Fe at a temperature below 983 K because

Options

A. free energy change for the formation of CO is more negative than that of `Fe_(2)O_(3)`
B. CO is thermodynamically more stable than `Fe_(2)O_(3)`
C. carbon has higher affinity towards oxygen than iron
D. iron has higher affinity towards oxygen than carbon

Answer

D

Explanation

The reduction of `Fe_(2)O_(3)` to Fe by carbon at temperature below 983 K does not take place because iron has higher affinity towards oxygen than carbon.