Question

Water gas is a mixture of:
1. carbon monoxide and hydrogen
2. carbon dioxide and methane
3. carbon dioxide and hydrogen
4. carbon monoxide and nitrogen

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 1 : carbon monoxide and hydrogen

The answer is carbon monoxide and hydrogen.

• Water gas is a combustion fuel containing carbon monoxide  and hydrogen gas (H2).
• Water-gas is made by passing steam overheated hydrocarbons. The reaction between steam and hydrocarbons produces synthesis gas.
• The water-gas shift reaction can be used to reduce carbon dioxide levels and enrich hydrogen content, making water gas. The water-gas shift reaction is CO + H2O → CO2 + H2. 

• Different forms of Water Gas:
  • Water-gas shift reaction gas: This is the name given to water gas made using the water-gas shift reaction to obtain pure hydrogen (or at least enriched hydrogen). The carbon monoxide from the initial reaction is reacted with water to remove carbon dioxide, leaving only the hydrogen gas.
  • Semi-water gas: Semi-water gas is a mixture of water gas and producer gas. Producer gas is the name of fuel gas derived from coal or coke, as opposed to natural gas. Semi-water gas is made by collecting the gas produced when steam is alternated with air to burn coke to maintain a high enough temperature to sustain the water gas reaction.
  • Carburetted water gas: Carburetted water gas is produced to enhance the energy value of water gas, which is ordinarily lower than that of coal gas. Water-gas is carburetted by passing it through a heated retort which has been sprayed with oil.
• Uses of Water Gas:
  • Water-gas used in the synthesis of some industrial processes:
  • To remove carbon dioxide from fuel cells.
  • Reacted with producer gas to make fuel gas.
  • It is used in the Fischer-Tropsch process.
  • It is used to obtain pure hydrogen to synthesize ammonia.