Are operating conditions (250 to 300 degees and 50 to 100 atmosphere) consistent with achieving high equilibrium yield of methanol and high production rate. Any conflicts? What is the copper based catalyst? How does its presence help address conflicts. What would this do to the overall costs of production??
Any hints please??
Write the balanced equation.
Study Le Chatelier's Principle.
Look at the number of mols on the left and right of the equation. The equilibrium shifts, with increased pressure, to the side occupying the smaller number of mols. Then look at whether this is an endothermic or an exothermic reaction. The equilibrium will shift, with increased T, to the side in which heat will be used up.
This will be endothermic. What will the copper based catalyst do?
A catlyst speeds up the rate of reaction so that products are increased at lower temperatures.
To determine whether the given operating conditions (250 to 300 degrees Celsius and 50 to 100 atmospheres) are consistent with achieving a high equilibrium yield of methanol and a high production rate, you need to consider several factors.
First, let's write the balanced equation for the synthesis of methanol:
CO + 2H2 ⇌ CH3OH
Now, let's apply Le Chatelier's Principle. Increasing pressure shifts the equilibrium towards the side with fewer moles of gas. In this case, there are fewer moles of gas on the left side of the equation, so increasing pressure will favor the formation of methanol. Therefore, the high pressure range provided (50 to 100 atmospheres) should help increase the equilibrium yield of methanol.
Next, let's consider the effect of temperature. The synthesis of methanol is an endothermic reaction, meaning it requires heat to proceed. According to Le Chatelier's Principle, increasing the temperature shifts the equilibrium towards the side where heat is absorbed. In this case, that would be the reactant side. Therefore, increasing the temperature would favor the formation of methanol. The temperature range provided (250 to 300 degrees Celsius) is suitable for this reaction.
To address any conflicts that may arise due to the reaction being endothermic and requiring high temperatures, a copper-based catalyst is used. The catalyst acts to accelerate the rate of the reaction, allowing for higher production rates at lower temperatures. The presence of the copper-based catalyst helps overcome any limitations imposed by the high temperature requirement, enabling a more efficient synthesis of methanol.
Regarding the overall costs of production, implementing a copper-based catalyst may increase the initial investment due to the cost of obtaining and maintaining the catalyst, but it can potentially lower the operating costs by reducing the energy requirements and increasing the production rate. Therefore, the overall costs of production would depend on the specific economic and technical considerations in the given context.
In summary, the given operating conditions are generally consistent with achieving a high equilibrium yield of methanol and a high production rate. The use of a copper-based catalyst is crucial in enabling the reaction to occur at lower temperatures, ensuring a more efficient process with potentially lower production costs.