Chapter 14.7, Problem 21P

Ethanol can be converted into either ethylene or acetaldehyde, by the following pair of reactions:

C₂H₅OH ↔ C₂H₄ + H₂O

C₂H₅OH ↔ CH₃CHO + H₂

But ethylene and acetaldehyde can also be converted into butadiene:

C₂H₄ + CH₃CHO ↔ C₄H₆ + H₂

A reactor initially contains 10 moles of pure ethanol. Assuming all three of these reactions—and no others—occur, find the equilibrium composition of the reactor for the following.

1. A. The reactor is at T = 500 K and P = 1 bar.
2. B. The reactor is at T = 1000 K and P = 1 bar.
3. C. The reactor is at T = 500 K and P = 5 bar.

State any assumptions you make, and indicate the source of any data not obtained from the Appendices.