Oxidation of Carbon
It is important to note that amongst all steelmaking reactions, oxidation of carbon is the reaction whose product is gas i.e. CO. Therefore this reaction is of very much significance during steelmaking because

• CO gas during escape from the molten bath can induce stirring in metal and slag phases during steelmaking.
• CO gas can cause slag to foam which leads to increase in surface area.
• CO gas has a high calorific value and combustion of CO in steelmaking can contribute to energy efficiency.

Carbon oxidation is also known as “decarburizing” reaction

(9)

(10)

(11)

If we assume  that is at low concentration of carbon and oxygen in molten metal then

(12)

According to eq. 12, the product   at a given temperature depends only on partial pressure of CO in equilibrium with melt. It is important to note that depends on the location of nucleation of CO in steel melt. If CO nucleates deep into the bath then will be greater than atmospheric pressure.