Question

Town gas contains quite a lot of chemicals.

Based on my research, the order of abundance of its constitutes is hydrogen, carbon monoxide, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, gaseous naphtha and oxygen, if arranged in descending order).

I do not understand why the abundance of carbon monoxide is greater than that of carbon dioxide since carbon monoxide can be converted into carbon dioxide due to the reaction 2CO+O2⟶2CO2
. So, in my opinion, the abundance of carbon dioxide will certainly be greater.

I propose several possibilities:

The problem boils down to inaccurate or incorrect data of my research
The reaction 2CO+O2⟶2CO2
is hard to take place
Are there any other possibilities, or what should be an answer to my question?

Answer 1

The greater abundance of carbon monoxide over carbon dioxide in town gas can be attributed to the rate of reaction, production processes, localized variations, and environmental factors like microbial consumption.

Step-by-step explanation:

The abundance of carbon monoxide (CO) being greater than carbon dioxide (CO₂) in town gas can seem puzzling because the reaction 2CO + O₂ → 2CO₂ suggests that CO should readily convert to CO₂ in the presence of oxygen.

However, there are several factors that could explain why CO would still be more abundant. One such factor is the rate of the chemical reactions involved. While the reaction to convert CO to CO₂ is thermodynamically favorable, it may not occur swiftly without a catalyst or at the specific temperatures and pressures found in town gas production or use.

Also, the production process of town gas itself might lead to a higher initial concentration of CO. Additionally, localized variations in the production and consumption processes can affect the relative abundances of these gases.

Finally, environmental factors, such as the presence of microorganisms that consume CO, may also play a role in maintaining higher levels of CO.