C15 - Haber process Flashcards
haber process
used to manufacture ammonia
- for nitrogen fertiliser
haber process materials
hydrogen
nitrogen
hydrogen from
natural gas
nitrogen from
air
Haber process steps
- purified gases are passed over iron catalyst at high temp + pressure
- react to form ammonia
-ammonia is removed by cooling gases = liquifies - separated from unreacted gases
- recycled into reaction mixture
- recompressed/heated before returning to reaction vessel
reversible reaction - H2 + N2
- some ammonia produced breaks down
nitrogen gas costs
-free from air
-costs to separate from other gases (fractional distillation)
- cooling process air must be pressurised - expensive pumps
hydrogen obtained by
- react methane with steam at high temps
hydrogen costs
water = cheap
- heating is expensive
-methane = expensive
effect of pressure of haber process
-volume of reactants > products
- favours forward reaction
max ammonia yield
- colder temps
-max pressure
high pressure costs
expensive vessels
pressure in haber process
uses 200 atmospheres
- reduces cost but reasonable yield
effect of temp on haber process
forward reaction = exothermic
- lower temps favours forward
temp used in haber process
450 .c
too cold temps con in haber process
rate of reaction is slowed = less frequent collisions of gas
- must be quick = economical
- reduces effect of iron catalyst