An inventor has devised an atmospheric-pressure process to manufacture methanol (CH3OH). The inventor claims he has developed a catalyst that promotes the economical reaction of CO and H2 to yield methanol; however, a cheap supply of CO and H2 is needed. The inventor proposes burning natural gas (CH4) in oxygen under fuel-rich conditions to yield a gas mixture of CO, CO2 H2O and H2. Required:
a. If CH4 burns in oxygen at an equivalence ratio 1.5, and the combustion reactions go to equilibrium, what will be the resulting gas composition? Assume the combustion temperature is controlled to 1500 K.
b. What would be the composition if the temperature were controlled to 2500 K?