Question

Methanol (methyl alcohol, CH₃OH), is a very important industrial chemical. Formerly, methanol was prepared by heating wood to high temperatures in the absence of air. The complex compounds present in wood are degraded by this process into a charcoal residue and a volatile portion that is rich in methanol. Today, methanol is instead synthesized from carbon monoxide and molecular hydrogen. Write the balanced chemical equation for this latter process. (Use the lowest possible coefficients. Omit states-of-matter in your answer.)

Answer 1

Answer:

CO(g) + 2H₂(g) → CH₃OH(l)

Explanation:

Carbon monoxide has molecular formula CO, molecular hydrogen has formula H₂, and methanol is CH₃OH.

The reactants are CO and H₂ and the product CH₃OH:

CO(g) + H₂(g) → CH₃OH(l)

To balance the equation, the elements must have the same amount on each side. C and O are balanced, but there is 4H in the product and only 2 in the reactant, so we multiply H₂ for 2:

CO(g) + 2H₂(g) → CH₃OH(l)

And the equation is balanced.