Question

Which of the following gas is produced in the formation of water gas?
a.) CO$_2$
b.) SO$_2$
c.) CO
d.) Water vapours

Answer 1

Hint: Water gas is a mixture of gases produced by heating coke. Coke is a carbon compound. If we talk about the nature of gases produced then it is highly toxic, but when combined, it acts as a fuel gas.

Complete step by step answer:
First, let us know about water gas. Water gas is a fuel also known as blue gas, or synthesis gas, as it is used in the industrial synthesis of organic compounds.
Now, we will see the formation of water gas. Water gas is formed by passing the steam over red hot coke.
As we know coke is a carbon compound represented by C(s). Now, when we pass the steam over red hot coke, a mixture of gases is produced. The chemical reaction can be written as:
C(s) + H$_2$O(g) $\rightarrow$ CO$_2$(g) + H$_2$(g)
In the reactants, H$_2$O represents the steam.
From the reaction, we can say that mixture of gases consists of carbon-monoxide and hydrogen.
So, in the end we can say that the CO (g) is produced in the formation of water-gas. The correct option is C.

Note: Don’t get confused in between the options as carbon-dioxide, and water vapours are given. These relate to the carbon element as well, but carbon-dioxide is produced by heating mainly carbon and oxygen. Water vapours are released in too many chemical reactions, but in this steam is one form of water vapours only.