The　main　obstacles　to　the　production　of　metals　such　as　tungsten　are　the　multi-step　reaction　processes　and　disproportionation　reactions.　Tungsten　has　more　metastable　valence　states　in　molten　salt　and　is　more　likely　to　undergo　side　reactions.　To　implement　the　low-valence　reduction　of　tungsten,　the　composition　of　the　molten　salt　system　was　changed.　The　influence　of　fluoride　ions　on　the　valence　states　of　tungsten　ions　was　determined　by　experiments　and　simulation　analysis.　The　preliminary　results　suggested　that　a　one-step　direct　reduction　to　metallic　tungsten　could　be　achieved　by　selecting　a　proper　[Cl-]/[F-]　ratio.　This　change　of　the　valence　state,　which　is　the　primary　issue　for　tungsten　reduction,　was　overcome　by　understanding　the　interactions　between　the　ions　and　the　coordination　form.　More　specific　details　related　to　the　variation　of　the　reaction　process　and　coordination　form　were　provided　by　simulations.　The　simulation　results　showed　that　low-valence　tungsten　ions　were　dissolved　from　tungsten　carbide　at　appropriate　[Cl-]/[F-]　ratios,　and　the　change　of　the　coordination　form　of　the　tungsten　ions　affected　the　reduction　process　of　these　ions　with　various　valence　states.　(C)　2022　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.