Advanced Objective Questions - Reaction Engineering II Answers
1. Which of the following statements about catalysts is incorrect?
Your answer: d) Catalysts do not affect the equilibrium of a reaction. (Incorrect)
Correct answer: a) Catalysts are consumed during the reaction.
Explanation: Catalysts are not consumed in the reaction; they emerge unchanged after the reaction
is complete.
2. In which industrial process is molybdenum used as a promoter?
Your answer: a) The Fischer-Tropsch process. (Incorrect)
Correct answer: b) The Haber process for ammonia synthesis.
Explanation: Molybdenum is used as a promoter to enhance the activity of iron catalysts in ammonia
synthesis.
3. Which of the following is an example of a catalytic poison?
Your answer: a) Platinum. (Incorrect)
Correct answer: b) Arsenious oxide.
Explanation: Arsenious oxide can adsorb on the catalyst surface, preventing reactants from
accessing active sites, thus poisoning the catalyst.
4. Which type of catalysis involves catalysts and reactants being in different phases?
Your answer: b) Heterogeneous catalysis. (Correct)
Explanation: Heterogeneous catalysis occurs when the catalyst and the reactants are in different
phases, e.g., solid catalyst with gaseous reactants.
5. What happens to the catalyst at the end of a reaction cycle?
Your answer: a) It is destroyed. (Incorrect)
Correct answer: c) It is regenerated to its original state.
Explanation: Catalysts are not consumed in the reaction and typically return to their original state
after the reaction cycle.
6. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a good catalyst in industrial processes?
Your answer: b) Ability to promote undesired reactions. (Correct)
Explanation: A good catalyst should enhance desired reactions and not promote undesired ones.
7. What role does temperature play in catalytic reactions according to the Langmuir-Hinshelwood
mechanism?
Your answer: b) It changes the adsorption rate of reactants on the catalyst surface. (Correct)
Explanation: Temperature affects the kinetic energy of molecules, thereby influencing how reactants
adsorb onto the catalyst surface.
8. What is the primary factor limiting the life cycle of a catalyst in industrial applications?
Your answer: b) Catalyst poisoning and deactivation. (Correct)
Explanation: Catalyst poisoning, due to impurities or deactivation over time, is the primary reason
catalysts lose effectiveness.
9. In the catalytic conversion of H2 and O2 to water, which type of catalyst is used?
Your answer: d) Palladium. (Incorrect)
Correct answer: b) Platinum.
Explanation: Platinum is commonly used as a catalyst in the reaction of hydrogen and oxygen due
to its high activity and stability.
10. The selectivity of a catalyst is important because it:
Your answer: c) Ensures only the desired product is formed. (Correct)
Explanation: Selectivity determines how effectively a catalyst promotes the formation of the desired
product while minimizing by-products.
11. In which industrial process is ZnCr oxide commonly used as a catalyst?
Your answer: c) Hydrogenation of oils. (Incorrect)
Correct answer: d) Coal liquefaction.
Explanation: ZnCr oxide is used in the coal liquefaction process to enhance the conversion of coal
to liquid fuels.
12. What is a key feature of catalysts used in the Fischer-Tropsch process?
Your answer: d) They are highly sensitive to light exposure. (Incorrect)
Correct answer: b) They consist of cobalt and iron-based materials.
Explanation: The Fischer-Tropsch process typically uses cobalt and iron as catalysts for converting
carbon monoxide and hydrogen into hydrocarbons.
13. What is the effect of an inhibitor in a catalytic reaction?
Your answer: b) It deactivates the catalyst. (Incorrect)
Correct answer: c) It selectively reduces the rate of undesired reactions.
Explanation: Inhibitors slow down or stop unwanted reactions but do not necessarily deactivate the
catalyst itself.
14. In which process are H-ZSM-5 catalysts used?
Your answer: c) Xylene isomerization. (Incorrect)
Correct answer: a) Hydroisomerization.
Explanation: H-ZSM-5 is used in hydroisomerization to convert linear alkanes into branched
isomers, enhancing fuel quality.
15. What distinguishes heterogeneous catalysis from homogeneous catalysis?
Your answer: c) Heterogeneous catalysis involves multiple phases, while homogeneous involves a
single phase. (Correct)
Explanation: Heterogeneous catalysis involves reactions where the catalyst is in a different phase
than the reactants, while homogeneous catalysis has both in the same phase.