DoITPoMS

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Other gas mixtures

The oxygen required to cause oxidation in the gas phase need not to come from oxygen gas. Consider the following reaction:

2CO (g) + O2 (g) = 2CO2 (g)

For this reaction,

            equation

or         equationor ,

and hence

        equation

We see that pO2 is equivalent to a ratio: equation.

Another nomographic scale may be added to the diagram, with a new origin, C where the CO/CO2 line crosses the y-axis.

Similarly for the reaction 2H2 + O2 = 2H2O; pO2 is equivalent to equation. Adding a further nomographic scale to the diagram, we see that the equilibrium pressure ratios of CO and CO2 or H2 and H2O for a given oxidation of metal, or reduction of an oxide, can be deduced at a given temperature from the diagram.


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