Question

Identify correct composition of water gas from following.

• A. $\mathrm{CO}(g) + \mathrm{H_2O}(g)$
• B. $\mathrm{NO}(g) + 2\mathrm{H_2}(g)$
• C. $\mathrm{CO_2}(g) + 3\mathrm{H_2}(g)$
• D. $\mathrm{CO}(g) + \mathrm{H_2}(g)$

Hint:

Do not get confused between Water Gas and Producer Gas!
1. Water Gas is a mixture of $\mathrm{CO} + \mathrm{H_2}$ (think of hydrogen coming out of broken water molecules).
2. Producer Gas is a mixture of $\mathrm{CO} + \mathrm{N_2}$ (produced when coke is burned in a limited supply of standard air).

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The problem requires identifying the true chemical composition that makes up industrial "water gas" from the given chemical combinations.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Water gas is an important industrial fuel gas mixture. It is synthesized commercially by passing superheated steam ($\mathrm{H_2O}$) over a red-hot carbonaceous bed of coke or coal at high temperatures ($\sim 1270\ \mathrm{K}$):
$$\mathrm{C}(s) + \mathrm{H_2O}(g) \xrightarrow{\Delta} \mathrm{CO}(g) + \mathrm{H_2}(g)$$ The resulting equimolar gaseous output consists strictly of carbon monoxide ($\mathrm{CO}$) and hydrogen gas ($\mathrm{H_2}$).
Because this mixture is extensively utilized in the industrial synthesis of methanol and several organic hydrocarbons, it is also widely referred to as synthesis gas or "syn-gas".

Step 3: Final Answer:
The correct chemical composition of water gas is $\mathrm{CO}(g) + \mathrm{H_2}(g)$, which corresponds perfectly to option (D).