Which of the following elements constitutes a major impurity in pig iron? — Metallurgy and Isolation of Elements Chemistry Question

💡 Solution & Explanation

Step 1: Pig iron is the raw product obtained directly from the blast furnace during the smelting of iron ore. Step 2: It is highly impure and typically contains about 4% carbon, which is the most abundant and major impurity, along with smaller amounts of silicon, manganese, phosphorus, and sulfur. Step 3: Therefore, carbon is the major impurity in pig iron, matching option (a).