Question

Methane (from natural gas) is mixed with steam, compressed at $30\mathrm{atm}$ pressure, and passed over a nickel about $800°\mathrm{C}$ to form __________

Answer 1

Water-gas:

• Methane ${\mathrm{CH}}_4$ obtained from natural resources like feedstock reacts with steam at high temperature $800°\mathrm{C}$ and high pressure $30\mathrm{atm}$ over the Nickel surface being used as a catalyst.
• The Hydrogen produced thus in its diatomic form is referred to as ‘grey Hydrogen’.
• The mixture of Carbon monoxide and Hydrogen gas is known as water gas.

$\underset{\mathrm{Methane}}{{\mathrm{CH}}_4(\mathrm{g}})+\underset{\mathrm{Steam}}{{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}(\mathrm{g}})\stackrel{\mathrm{Nickel}}{\to }\underset{\mathrm{Carbon}\mathrm{monoxide}}{\mathrm{CO}\left(\mathrm{g}\right)}+\underset{\mathrm{Hydrogen}}{3{\mathrm{H}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)}$

• Water-gas is also known as syngas.
• The Nickel-metal act as a catalyst by providing a surface that allows the gaseous reactants to get adsorbed and provides a larger area for the reaction to take place efficiently.

Therefore, Methane (from natural gas) is mixed with steam, compressed at $30\mathrm{atm}$ pressure, and passed over a Nickel about $800°\mathrm{C}$ to form water gas.