Question

what product, if any, would result from the reaction shown below? ch3 ch3 h2 pd ? a) ch3 ch3 h h b) ch3 ch3 h h c) ch3 ch3 d) both a and b e) no reaction occurs

Answer 1

The hydrogenation of ethane (
`CH_3CH_3`) with hydrogen gas (
`H_2`) in the presence of a palladium (Pd) catalyst produces propane
`(CH_3CH_2CH_3)`and unreacted ethane (
`CH_3CH_3`) .

The reaction between ethane (
`CH_3CH_3`) and hydrogen gas (
`H_2`) in the presence of a palladium (Pd) catalyst. The products of the reaction are two different compounds:

Compound A: This is propane (
`CH_3CH_3`). It is formed by the addition of one hydrogen molecule (
`H_2`) to the ethane molecule (
`CH_3CH_3`) . The palladium catalyst helps to break the double bond in the hydrogen molecule and add the hydrogen atoms to the ethane molecule.

Compound B: This is ethane (
`CH_3CH_3`) . It is the same molecule as the starting material. Some of the ethane molecules do not react with the hydrogen gas and remain unchanged.

The image also shows the possible structures of compounds A and B. The structures are shown as Lewis structures, which show the atoms and the bonds between the atoms.

The reaction between ethane and hydrogen gas is an example of a hydrogenation reaction. Hydrogenation reactions are used in industry to add hydrogen atoms to molecules in order to change their properties. For example, hydrogenation is used to convert vegetable oils into margarine and to make soap.