Question

Carbon monoxide reacts with hydrogen under certain conditions to form methanol (CH₃OH). Write a balanced chemical equation for this reaction indicating the physical states of reactants and product as well as the conditions under which this reaction takes place.

Answer 1

\[\ce{\underset{Carbon monoxide}{{CO}_{(g)}} + \underset{Hydrogen}{2H2_{(g)}} ->[300 atm; 300^\circ C][ZnO + CrO3] \underset{(Methyl alcohol)}{\underset{Methanol}{CH3OH_{(l)}}}}\]

The conditions for this reaction to take place are: a pressure of 300 atmospheres (300 atm), a temperature of 300°C, and a catalyst consisting of a mixture of zinc oxide and chromium oxide (ZnO + CrO₃).