Hey guys, i came on the chance to get extra credit in bio 111
my teacher was talking about catalysts, and converters got brought up
Can anyone explain, and maybe provide a reference to what and how the catylitic converter produces water?
What does it convert into it?
I think the teach didnt understand where the hydrogen was coming from.
Any help or ideas are appreciated. I need the extra credit!

 

water is produced in the combustion processes since gas is a hydrocarbon, ie it contains both carbon and hydrogen. Ideally, when you burn the fuel it goes to co2 and water but ussually, the mixture doesnt always burn fully and harmful things like nox and co are formed. The catalitic converter uses presious metals such as platinum and palladium (the catalysts) to assist in "burning w/o a flame" . The unburned HCs, CO, and NOx are helped to burn to completion. My car doesnt have a cat and plety of water is produced and can be easilty seen on a cold morning. This is due to the fact that, again, the gasoline contains hydrogen and water is formed when the fuel is burned.

 

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/catalytic-converter.htm

 

thank you