When a mixture of gases X and Y is compressed to 300 atm pressure and then passed over a catalyst consisting of a mixture of zinc oxide and chromium oxide (heated to a temperature of `300^(@)C`), then an organic compound Z having the molecular formula `CH_(4)O` is formed X is a highly poisonous gas which is formed in appreciable amounts when a fuel burns in a limited supply of air , Y is a gas which can be made by the action of a dilute acid on an active metal , and Z is a liquid organic compound which can react with sodium metal to produce hydrogen gas.
(a) What are X,Y and Z?
(b) Write balanced chemical equation of the reaction which takes place when C and Y combine to form. Indicate the conditions under which the reaction occurs.

Answer

(a) X is carbon monoxide gas (CO); Y is hydrogen gas `(H_(2))`;Z is methanol (or Methyl alcohol) `(CH_(3)OH)` Note. The molecular formula `CH_(4)O` for compound Z tells us that one molecule of this compound contains 1 carbon atom, 4 hydrogen atoms and 1 oxygen atom `(CH_(4)O=CH_(3)OH)` (b) For chemical equation, `underset"Carbon monooxide"(CO(g))+underset"Hydrogen"(2H_2(g)) overset(300^@C; 300 "atm")underset(ZnO+CrO_3)to underset"Methanol"(CH_3OH(l))`