Give the composition of water gas.

Answer

To determine the composition of water gas, we can follow these steps:

### Step 1: Understand what water gas is
Water gas is a synthetic gas that is primarily composed of two gases: carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen (H2).

**Hint:** Water gas is not just water; it consists of gases produced from a chemical reaction.

### Step 2: Identify the process of formation
Water gas is produced by passing steam over red-hot coke (a form of carbon). This process involves a reaction between water vapor and carbon.

**Hint:** Think about what happens when steam interacts with carbon at high temperatures.

### Step 3: Write the chemical reaction
The reaction can be represented as:
\[ \text{C (s) + H}_2\text{O (g)} \rightarrow \text{CO (g) + H}_2\text{(g)} \]

This equation shows that solid carbon reacts with water vapor to produce carbon monoxide and hydrogen gas.

**Hint:** Remember that the reaction involves both solid carbon and gaseous water.

### Step 4: Determine the composition
The composition of water gas is typically about 50% carbon monoxide and 50% hydrogen by volume, although the exact ratio can vary depending on the conditions of the reaction.

**Hint:** Consider the proportions of the gases produced in the reaction.

### Final Answer
The composition of water gas is approximately 50% carbon monoxide (CO) and 50% hydrogen (H2) by volume.

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