In class, I described the methods used to create gas and gasoline from the carbon in coal. The other ingredients were water and heat energy. First we made 'coal gas' from the carbon in coal
C + H2O → H2 + CO
Then we used the Fischer-Tropsch reaction to make a generic hydrocarbon, in a different system
(2n+1) H2 + n CO → CnH2n+2 + n H20.
- Write the full balanced reaction that consumes carbon and water to make gasoline as decane C10H22, with a carbon dioxide (CO2) waste product.
- From 1 kg of carbon (C), how many kg of C10H22 can you make?