Question

In context with the industrial preparation of hydrogen from water gas $(CO+H_2)$, which of the following is the correct statement ?

• A. $CO$ and $H_2$, are fractionally separated using differences in their densities
• B. $CO$ is removed by absorption in aqueous $C{u}_{2}C{l}_2$ solution
• C. $H_2$ is removed through occlusion with $Pd$
• D. $CO$ is oxidised to $C{O}_2$ with steam in the presence of a catalyst followed by absorption of $C{O}_2$ in alkali

Answer 1

The correct option is D $CO$ is oxidised to $C{O}_2$ with steam in the presence of a catalyst followed by absorption of $C{O}_2$ in alkali

On the industrial scale, hydrogen is prepared from water gas according to following reaction sequence.
$\underset{\text{water gas}}{\underset{}{CO+H_2}}+\underset{\text{(steam)}}{\underset{}{H_{2}O}}\stackrel{\text{catalyst}}{\to }C{O}_2+2H_2\underset{\text{(alkali)}}{\overset{2NaOH}{\to }}N{a}_{2}C{O}_3+H_{2}O$
From the above, it is clear that $CO$ is first oxidised to $C{O}_2$ which is then absorbed in $NaOH$