12. The production of Ammonia

Question 1

What does the Haber process produce?

Answer 1

Ammonium

Question 2

What are the raw materials needed for the Haber process?

Answer 2

Nitrogen and Hydrogen

Question 3

What are the industrial conditions needed for the Haber process?

Answer 3

Pressure: 200 atmospheres
Temperature: 450’ C
Catalyst: Iron

Question 4

If you raise the pressure, which reaction is encouraged?

Answer 4

The reaction which produces the fewer moles

Question 5

What happens if you raise the temperature in a reversible reaction ?

Answer 5

The endothermic reaction is favoured to use up the extra heat and oppose the change

Question 6

How does the Haber process work?

Answer 6

H2 & N2 pumped into a reaction vessel, 3:1 ratio
At 450’C, 200atms and when passed over an iron catalyst it reacts to form NH3 gas
This is then transferred into a condenser and liquid Ammonium is formed and removed from the system
Then the unused N2 and H2 is recycled back into the system

Question 7

Why is an Iron catalyst used?

Answer 7

It make she reaction go faster, gets it to the equilibrium proportions more quickly
Without the catalyst temp would need to be even higher that would reduce the % yield even more and make it more expensive