When steam is passed through red hot carbon, which of the following are produced?
- Hydrogen oxygen and carbon (IV) oxide
- Hydrogen and carbon (IV) oxide
-
Hydrogen and carbon (II) oxide
- Hydrogen and trioxocarbonate (IV) acid
The correct answer is: C
Explanation
When steam is passed through red hot carbon (like coke), the products formed are carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen gas H\(_2\), which is commonly referred to as "water gas". This reaction occurs because the high heat breaks the bonds in the water molecule, allowing the oxygen to react with the carbon to form carbon monoxide, while the hydrogen is released as a gas.
Chemical equation: C (s) + H\(_2\)O (g) → CO (g) + H\(_2\) (g).