Factsage -

| I want to... | Do this... | |--------------|-------------| | Get melting point of a pure oxide | Info → search compound → properties | | Find if a slag forms at 1200°C | Equilib → add oxides → set T=1200°C | | Draw CaO–Al2O3–SiO2 liquidus | Phase Diagram → Ternary → T= constant | | Calculate adiabatic flame T | Reaction → reactants → set enthalpy=0 | | Vary oxygen partial pressure | Equilib → set gas phase with fixed p(O2) |

At the time, if you wanted to know how molten steel would react with a slag (the layer of impurities floating on top), you had two choices: ask an old master who relied on "intuition," or consult a phase diagram—a static, two-dimensional drawing on paper that was useless the moment you added a third chemical element. factsage