In which of the following reactions heterogenous catalysis is involved?

(a) 2SO2 (g) + O2 (g) 2SO3 (g)


(b) 2SO2 (g) 2SO3 (g)


(c) N2 (g) + 3H2 (g) 2NH3 (g)


(d) CH3COOCH3 (l) + H2O (l) CH3COOH (aq) + CH3OH (aq)


Heterogenous catalyst is the type of catalyst, whose physical state (solid, liquid, aqueous, gas) is not same as reactants and products.

For reaction (a), catalyst NO(g) is in the same physical state or phase with the reactants and products which are in gas phase. So (a) here heterogeneous catalysis is not involved. So (iii) is wrong.


For (d), the catalyst HCl(l) is in same phase with all the reactants and products which are in either liquid or aqueous phases. So this is also not heterogeneous catalysis.


Therefore, option (ii) and (iv) are also wrong.


In (b), catalyst Pt(s) is an heterogeneous catalyst, because it is not in same phase with the reactant SO2(g) and the product SO3(g).


Similarly in (c), catalyst Fe(s) is an heterogeneous catalyst, because it is not in same phase with the reactant N2(g), H2(g) and the product NH3(g).


So both (b) and (c) are the examples of heterogeneous catalysed reactions.


Therefore option (i) is the correct.

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