WHAT HAPPENS INSIDE CHEMICAL REACTORS?

     Have you ever wondered what really happens inside a chemical reactor?  In short, as the reaction proceeds the reactants decrease in concentration while the products increase in concentration.  Consider the following two reactions:

A + B --> C

     A + C --> D     

where C is the desired product.  Let's assume that this reaction takes place over a solid catalyst.

     The reaction concentration profile may resemble: