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Difficulty: MediumCarbon: Allotropes, Coal Distillation, and Industrial Fuel Gases

In an industrial furnace operation, producer gas is synthesized by passing air over red-hot coke. Which of the following pairs correctly identifies the main combustible constituent and the primary non-combustible diluent present in the resulting gas mixture?

  1. Carbon(II) oxide and nitrogenAnswer
  2. B
    Carbon(II) oxide and hydrogen
  3. C
    Carbon(IV) oxide and nitrogen
  4. D
    Carbon(IV) oxide and hydrogen

Answer

The main combustible constituent of producer gas is carbon(II) oxide (CO\text{CO}) and the primary non-combustible diluent is nitrogen (N2\text{N}_2).
When air is passed over red-hot coke, oxygen reacts with carbon to form carbon(II) oxide (CO\text{CO}), which is the primary combustible fuel component. The unreactive nitrogen gas (N2\text{N}_2) present in air passes through the bed of coke without reacting, forming the main non-combustible diluent (approximately two-thirds of the total volume).

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the reactants involved in the production of producer gas.
Air (containing O2\text{O}_2 and N2\text{N}_2) is passed over incandescent coke (C\text{C}).
Producer gas manufacture relies on passing air over red-hot carbon.
2
Determine the chemical reaction and resulting gaseous products.
2C(s)+O2(g)→2CO(g)2\text{C}_{(s)} + \text{O}_{2(g)} \rightarrow 2\text{CO}_{(g)}, while atmospheric N2\text{N}_2 remains unreacted.
Incomplete oxidation of coke produces CO\text{CO}, while N2\text{N}_2 from air dilutes the product mixture.
3
Classify the role of each component in the product gas mixture.
CO\text{CO} is combustible and serves as the fuel, whereas N2\text{N}_2 is inert/non-combustible.
CO\text{CO} can undergo further oxidation to CO2\text{CO}_2 releasing energy, whereas N2\text{N}_2 does not burn.

Key Concept

Composition and industrial production of producer gas
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Carbon: Allotropes, Coal Distillation, and Industrial Fuel Gases

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