Coal Is Converted into Cleaner, More Transportable Fuels by Burning

Multiple Choice

Coal is converted into cleaner, more transportable fuels by burning it with oxygen to produce carbon monoxide. The carbon monoxide then is reacted with hydrogen using a catalyst to produce methane and water. Is the reaction between CO and H₂ exothermic or endothermic, and what is the change in enthalpy for it? The enthalpies of formation of the reactants and products are given below. $$\begin{array} { c c } \text { Molecule } & \boldsymbol { \Delta H } \\& \circ \\& \mathrm { f } \\ & \text { in kJ/mol } \\\mathrm { CO } & - 110 \\\mathrm { H } _ { 2 } & 0 \\\mathrm { CH } _ { 4 }& - 75 \\\mathrm { H } _ { 2 } \mathrm { O } & - 242\end{array}$$

A) exothermic, +317 kJ/mol
B) endothermic, +207 kJ/mol
C) exothermic, - 427 kJ/mol
D) endothermic, +427 kJ/mol
E) exothermic, -207 kJ/mol