Question
Dihydrogen gas used in Haber’s process is produced by reacting methane from natural gas with high temperature steam. The first stage of two stage reaction involves the formation of CO and H2. In second stage, CO formed in first stage is reacted with more steam in water gas shift reaction,
If a reaction vessel at 400°C is charged with an equimolar mixture of CO and steam such that pCO = 4·0 bar, what will be the partial pressure of H2 at equilibrium ? Kp = 10·1 at 400°C.
Solution
Suppose the partial pressure of H2 at equilibrium = p bar
Initial pressure 4.0 bar 4.0bar = - -
At eqm.
(4 -p) (4-p) = p p
Applying the law of chemical equilibrium,
Putting the values in expression (1), we have
