Complete the following sentence: In the conversion of iron to steel, ______ ; Your answer here;oxide is used to neutralise acidic impurities.

In the conversion of iron to steel, limestone oxide is used to neutralise acidic impurities.

During the process of converting iron ore into steel, impurities, particularly acidic oxides like silicon dioxide, need to be removed to improve the quality of the steel. Limestone (calcium carbonate) is added to the furnace during the smelting process. When heated, limestone decomposes to form lime (calcium oxide), which reacts with acidic impurities to form a slag that can be removed from the molten steel. This step is crucial because it helps achieve the desired composition and mechanical properties of the final steel product. By removing these impurities, the resultant steel is stronger and more durable, making it suitable for various construction and manufacturing applications.