2 The reducing agent in this catalytic hydrogenation reactio

2. The reducing agent in this catalytic hydrogenation reaction was molecular hydrogen (H₂), which was produced in situ during the course of the reaction.

a) During the course of the experiment, how did you know that molecular hydrogen (gas) had been formed?

b) Write a balanced chemical equation for the reaction that produced molecular hydrogen.

c) Was molecular hydrogen the limiting reactant? Why or why not (Hint: show the necessary calculations)?

Solution

a. Hydrogen gas (dihydrogen or molecular hydrogen)^[12] is highly flammable and will burn in air at a very wide range of concentrations

b H₂(g) + O₂(g) → 2 H₂O(l) + 572 kJ (286 kJ/mol)

c yes