Question

Carborundum is obtained when silica is heated at high temperature with
a) Carbon
b) Carbon monoxide
c) Carbon dioxide
d) Calcium carbonate

Answer 1

Hint: Carborundum is also known as silicon carbide. It is a covalent compound where 4 silicon atoms are covalently bonded with 4 carbon atoms making a closed packed structure.

Step by step solution:
Carborundum is a chemical substance with IUPAC name as silicon carbide and chemical formula as \[\text{SiC}\]. It is obtained when Silica which is heated with carbon at elevated temperatures, it gives carborundum and carbon monoxide is obtained as a by-product. The chemical reaction involved is given below:
\[\text{Si}{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}}}\text{+ 3C }\!\!~\!\!\text{ }\xrightarrow{\vartriangle }\text{SiC + 2CO}\]
Hence, the correct answer is carbon which is option A.

Note: Silicon carbide, also known as carborundum, is a semiconductor containing silicon and carbon. Carborundum is a very hard substance. It is as hard as diamond. It is used as an abrasive for cutting, grinding, and polishing, as an anti slip additive, and as a refractory.