What do you understand by the following terms:
(i) hydrogen economy
(ii) hydrogenation
(iii) ‘syngas’
(iv) water-gas shift reaction
(v) fuel-cell
Answers
"(i)"Hydrogen economy"
Hydrogen economy is the use of hydrogen as the fuel replacing low carbon energy petroleum products. It is used as the fuel for vehicles. Hydrogen is the abundant and cheapest element which is reacted with "air" in the "fuel cell" to produce electricity and water as side product.
(ii) "Hydrogenation":
The two hydrogen added across the "double bond"of an alkene in order to form and saturated alkane is called hydrogenation. Hydrogenation can be carried out in presence of "catalyst" such as "nickel", "platinum" and "palladium", etc. e.g. hydrogenation of oils.
(iii) "SYNGAS":
SYNGAS is otherwise known as synthetic natural gas. It is used as fuel. This fuel is the mixture of "carbon monoxide", "hydrogen" and rarely "carbon dioxide".
(iv) "Water-gas shift" reaction:
The reaction of "steam" with "carbon monoxide" to produce "carbon dioxide" and "hydrogen" gas is called "water-gas shift" reaction. It is a "reversible reaction". It is an "exothermic reaction" carried out with catalyst.
(v) "Fuel-cell":
Fuel cell is an "electrochemical cell", which converts the "fuel energy" into "electricity" through "electrochemical reaction" of ""hydrogen fuel cell" in "presence of oxygen" or other "oxidizing agents"."