Question

How does blowing oxygen into molten cast iron remove most of the carbon?

Answer 1

C(l) + O2(g) = CO2(g)

This reaction is highly favored at high temperature, and then the CO2, being a gas, readily leaves.

Answer 2

I should say the physical state of the carbon is a little unclear. It's probably best to think of it as being dissolved in the iron liquid, but there is no convenient physical state symbol for "dissolved in iron" to write after the C.

Answer 3

I think that there is some abbreviation for "in solution" regardless of the solvent. But I am unsure of this at the moment.