The production of dihydrogen obtained from coal gasification can be increased by reacting carbon mon — Hydrogen Chemistry Question
Question
The production of dihydrogen obtained from coal gasification can be increased by reacting carbon monoxide of syngas mixture with steam in presence of a catalyst iron chromate. What is this process called?
💡 Solution & Explanation
# Water-Gas Shift Reaction **The process is called the Water-Gas Shift (WGS) Reaction.** ## Step-by-step explanation: **1) Identify the reactants:** - Carbon monoxide ($CO$) from syngas - Steam ($H_2O$) - Catalyst: Iron chromate ($Fe_2O_3 \cdot Cr_2O_3$) **2) Write the reaction equation:** $$CO + H_2O \xrightarrow{Fe_2O_3 \cdot Cr_2O_3} CO_2 + H_2$$ **3) Why it's called Water-Gas Shift Reaction:** - "Water-gas" refers to the mixture of $CO$ and $H_2$ (syngas) - "Shift" indicates the conversion of $CO$ into $H_2$ - The reaction shifts the composition by consuming $CO$ and producing additional $H_2$ **4) Industrial significance:** - Increases $H_2$ yield from coal gasification - Removes toxic $CO$ from the gas mixture - Iron chromate catalyst provides both activity and thermal stability - Reaction is exothermic and thermodynamically favorable The **Water-Gas Shift Reaction** is the standard industrial process for converting syngas $CO$ into valuable hydrogen gas.