The production of dihydrogen obtained from coal gasification can be increased by reacting carbon mon — Hydrocarbons Chemistry Question

💡 Solution & Explanation

# Water-Gas Shift Reaction **Process Identification:** The reaction between carbon monoxide and steam over an iron chromate catalyst is called the **Water-Gas Shift (WGS) Reaction**. **Chemical Equation:** $$CO + H_2O \xrightarrow[\text{Fe-Cr catalyst}]{\text{heat}} CO_2 + H_2$$ **Step-by-step reasoning:** 1. **Reactants involved:** CO (from syngas) + $H_2O$ (steam) confirms this is not a simple oxidation or reduction—it's a shift reaction. 2. **Catalyst used:** Iron chromate ($Fe_2O_3$·$Cr_2O_3$) is the standard industrial catalyst for WGS, which directly identifies the process. 3. **Product objective:** The reaction converts CO (which is less valuable) into $H_2$ (desired product), while consuming steam and producing $CO_2$. 4. **Industrial significance:** This is a crucial step in syngas processing to maximize hydrogen yield from coal gasification. 5. **Alternative names:** Sometimes called the **Mond process** variant, but the standard name is **Water-Gas Shift Reaction (WGS)**. **Why it's called "shift":** The reaction shifts the CO/H₂ ratio toward higher hydrogen content by converting CO into $CO_2$ and H₂.