Equilibrium industrial reactions

Question 1

Ammonia industrial reactions

Answer 1

N2+3H2 ⇌ 2NH3
Conditions
- 450°c = forwards reaction is exothermic, lower temp allows eqm to favour products but not so low that the rate of reaction is very slow
- 200atm = eqm favours products to reduce pressure, but this is costly
- Iron Catalyst

Question 2

Ethanol industrial reaction

Answer 2

C2H4(g) + H2O(g) ⇌ C2H5OH(l)
Conditions
- 300°c - increased rate of reaction as ethene and steam can be recycled
- phosphoric acid catalyst - too much steam dilutes catalyst
- 70 atm - increases rate of reaction

Question 3

Methanol industrial reaction

Answer 3

CO(g) + 2 H₂(g) ⇌ CH₃OH(g)
- 230°c - activation energy is high
- 100 atm - high pressure increases yield
- copper catalyst - decreases activation energy due to alternative reaction pathway