Definition

1. Noun:
   • A combustible gas mixture: "Water gas" is a specific type of fuel gas. It is primarily a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide, with minor amounts of other gases like carbon dioxide and nitrogen. It is produced industrially by passing steam over red-hot coke or coal.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • In the early 20th century, many cities used water gas for street lighting and heating.
  • The chemical plant's primary output was water gas, used as a feedstock for synthesizing ammonia.
  • The production of water gas involves an endothermic reaction between steam and carbon.

Advanced Usage

• "Carbureted water gas": This is a common variant of water gas where its heating value is increased by enriching it with hydrocarbons (like oil gas). This process is called carburetion.
  • For domestic supply, the utility company distributed carbureted water gas to improve its efficiency in home appliances.

Variants and Related Words

• Producer gas: A related but distinct fuel gas made by blowing air (instead of steam) over hot coke or coal. It contains a high proportion of nitrogen, making it less calorific than water gas.
• Synthesis gas (Syngas): A modern, broader term for gas mixtures consisting primarily of hydrogen and carbon monoxide, used as an intermediate in producing other chemicals. Water gas is a historical type of syngas.
• Blue gas: An older, synonymous term for water gas, referring to the color of its flame.

Synonyms

• Fuel gas: A general term for any gas burned to produce heat or power.
• Coal gas: A broader term for gases derived from coal, which can include water gas, producer gas, and others.

Related Phrases

• "To generate water gas": The process of producing the gas.
  • The facility was designed to generate water gas continuously.
• "Water gas shift reaction": A critical chemical reaction (CO + H₂O → CO₂ + H₂) used to adjust the ratio of hydrogen to carbon monoxide in syngas, including water gas.
  • The hydrogen content was increased by subjecting the water gas to the water-gas shift reaction.

Noun

1. a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide with small amounts of other gases; made by blowing steam over hot coke or coal