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What is the number of mole(s) of H2(g) required to saturate one mole benzene ?
Explanation
Benzene (C6H6) is an aromatic hydrocarbon that can be saturated through a catalytic hydrogenation process to form cyclohexane (C6H12). According to the stoichiometry of the reaction, the conversion of one mole of benzene to cyclohexane requires the addition of three moles of molecular hydrogen (H2) [1]. This is because benzene contains three formal double bonds within its hexagonal ring structure, and each double bond requires one molecule of H2 for saturation. Industrial processes for hydrogen storage and nylon precursor production utilize this 1:3 molar ratio, where 1.0 mol of benzene reacts with 3.0 mol of H2 [1]. The reaction typically occurs in the presence of catalysts like nickel, palladium, or ruthenium to overcome high activation energy [1]. Consequently, to fully saturate one mole of benzene, exactly 3 moles of H2 gas are required.
Sources
- [1] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1226086X24000194