Question

Benzene is one of the compounds used as Octane and enhancers in unleaded gasoline. It is manufactured by the catalytic conversion of acetylene to benzene.
$3C_2{H}_2⟶C_6{H}_6$
Would this reaction be most useful commercially if $K$ were about $0.01$, about $1$ or about $10$? Explain your answer.

Answer 1

For the process to be used commercially it should be feasible for us to form benzene.

For $K$ about $0.01$, the amount of benzene formed will be equal to that of acetylene at equilibrium while for $K$ about $1$, the amount of benzene formed will be equal to that of acetylene at equilibrium and for $K$ about $10$, the amount of benzene present at equilibrium will be more than the amount of acetylene at equilibrium making the reaction feasible.

Hence the correct answer is $10$.