CH4 + H2O -> CO + H2

methane + steam -> synthesis gas http://www.answers.com/topic/steam-reforming

Steam methane reforming

H2O+CH4 --> CO + 3H2

Heat of reaction

20.6 kJ/mol

Syngas is a mixture of Hydrogen and Carbon Monoxide; it can be produced via Steam reforming of gasification (coal, oil heavy residues).

hydrogen is produced through one if two methods:

- electrolysis of water - electricity passed through water to separate hydrogen and oxygen atoms

-steam-methane reforming - hydrogen extracted from methane

Steam methane reforming is the most common, but produces CO2 as a by-product, which contributes to global warming.

I'm guessing you mean high carbon to steam ratio. that gives rise to a proportionately greater volume of carbon monoxide being evolved.

if there is a lot of steam and only some carbon, you normally get the more stable CO2 but with insufficient steam, the less stable CO is evolved, ALONG WITH some CO2. =]