In the industrial synthesis of hydrogen, mixtures of CO and H2 are enriched in H2 by allowing the CO to react with steam. The chemical equation for this so-called water-gas shift reaction is

CO (g) + H2 (g) + H2O (g) = => CO2 (g) + 2H2 (g)

Explanation:

In the industry, hydrogen is prepared from water and hydrocarbons. Water gas being the major method of preparation of hydrogen industrially.

The water-gas reaction is an industrial process in which steam is passed over red-hot coke giving a gaseous mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen:

C + H2O (g) → CO + H2.

The mixture of CO and H2 is Futher passed through steam according to the equation:

CO (g) + H2 (g) + H2O (g) = => CO2 (g) + 2H2 (g) to give hydrogen and carbon dioxide.