Question

Water gas (which is is a mixture of H2 and CO) can be made by reacting red hot charcoal (C) with steam (H2O). a. Write the balanced equation for this reaction. b. Show, how can the obtained water gas itself be used as a fuel (write the balanced reactions of complete combustion of H2 and CO).

Answer 1

Answer: The equations are written below.

Step-by-step explanation:

A balanced chemical equation is defined as the equation in which total number of individual atoms on the reactant side is equal to the total number of individual atoms on the product side. These equations follow law of conservation of mass.

The chemical equation for the formation of water gas follows:

`C+H_2O\rightarrow H_2+CO`

The gases released are hydrogen gas and carbon monoxide gas.

Combustion reactions are defined as the reactions in which a hydrocarbon reacts with oxygen gas to produce carbon dioxide and water.

The chemical equation for the combustion of hydrogen gas follows:

`2H_2+O_2\rightarrow 2H_2O`

The chemical equation for the combustion of carbon monoxide gas follows:

`2CO+O_2\rightarrow 2CO_2`

Hence, the equations are written above.

Answer 2

To balance chemical equations you add coefficients in front of each molecule in such a way that the number of atoms in reactants are equal with the number of the atoms in products.

a) C + H₂O → CO + H₂

the chemical equation is balanced, no need for other coefficients (it is assumed 1 in front of each molecule as a coefficient)

b) Combustion it means that the hydrogen and carbon monoxide will react with oxygen.

2 H₂ + O₂ → 2 H₂O

2 CO + O₂ → 2 CO₂