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CHEM 104 Homework 4 5. 20 points-Ch. 17.3,17,5 Steam reforming of natural gas is

ID: 1088724 • Letter: C

Question

CHEM 104 Homework 4 5. 20 points-Ch. 17.3,17,5 Steam reforming of natural gas is the method used to manufacture most of the hydrogen gas used ttcurrently. Although natural gas is mostly composed of methane, it also usually contains twons, such as propane, CMe Imagine the steam reforming of propane occurring in K,-0.6944 at 120 . K a) Write the overall equation for the reaction of propane and steam to produce carbon dioxide and hydrogen Calculate K, and Ke for the overall process at 1200. K. Suppose a reactor is filled with a mixture of propane and steam at 1200. K in which the partial pressure of c,Hs-1.00 atm and the partial pressure of 400 atm. After the reaction reaches equilibrium, what is the final total pressure in the reactor? (Hint: you may assume that all gases behave ideally. What assumption can you make about the extent of the reaction at equilibrium?) b) c) Cghig Iolt kp-8queas (o.oraco 10d aS CsHg

Explanation / Answer

Answer:

Step 1:

C3H8(g)+ 3H2O<-> 3CO(g)+ 7H2(g), Kp=8.175*1015

Kp1 = [PCO]3 [PH2]7/ [PC3H8][PH2O]3= 8.175*1015   (1)

Step 2: CO+ H2O<---> CO2(g)+ H2(g), Kp= 0.6944

KP2=[PCO2][PH2]/[PCO] [PH2O]= 0.6944

=Kp2’= Kp23= [PCO2]3 [PH2]3/ [PCO]3 [PH2O]3 =(0.6944)3 = 0.3348 (2)

   Eq.2* Eq.1 gives

Kp = [PCO2]3 [PH2]10 / [PH2O]6 [PC3H8] = 8.175*1015   *0.3348 =2.73*1015   (3)

The overall reaction is C3H8+ 6H2O <------->3CO2+10H2

Kp =KC*(RT)deltan, deltan= change in no of moles during the reaction = 10+3-(1+6)=6

2.73*1015= KC*(0.0821*1200)6, K= 2985.5

Given partial pressure of C3H8= 1 atm and that of H2O= 4 atm,

Let x= drop in pressure of C3H8 to reach equilibrium

C3H8(g)+ 3H2O<-> 3CO(g)+ 7H2(g), Kp=8.175*1015

Since Kp is high, the reaction is complete and since 1 atm of C3H8 and 4 atm of H2O are available. 3 atms of H2O participate in the 1st reaction giving rise to 3 atm of CO and 7 atm of H2. The 1 atm of H2O participates in the second reaction.

The second reaction is CO(g)+ H2O(g) <--->CO2(g)+ H2(g)

Let x= drop in pressure of H2O to reach equilibrium.

At equilibrium, CO= 3-x, H2O= 1-x and CO2= x and H2= 7+x

Kp= 0.6944= x*(7+x)/ (3-x)*(1-x)

When solved, x= 0.2117, So at equilibrium, PCO= 3-0.2117= 2.7883 atm, PH2O= 1-0.2117=0.7883 atm, PCO2=0.2117 atm and PH2= 7.217

Total pressure at equilibrium= 2.7883+0.7883+0.2117+7.217= 11 atm