Question

Ethanol can be converted to ethene and then can be changed to ethane. Choose the correct word or phrase from the bracket to complete the following sentences:

The catalyst used in the conversion of ethene to ethane is commonly________(iron, cobalt, nickel)

Answer 1

1. The catalyst is used in the chemical reactions to alter the rate of reaction.

2. The conversion of ethene to ethane is a hydrogenation reaction.

3. This hydrogenation reaction becomes very slow in absence of catalyst.

4. It is one of the addition reaction in which $\mathrm{Ni}$ (Raney nickel) is used as a catalyst and ${\mathrm{H}}_2$ molecules adds to the ethene in presence of finely divided $\mathrm{Ni}$.

5. Common catalysts used are insoluble metals such as palladium in the form $\mathrm{Pd}-\mathrm{C}$, platinum in the form ${\mathrm{PtO}}_2$, and nickel in the form $\mathrm{Ra}-\mathrm{Ni}$.

The correct answer is nickel.