Industrial Processes

Question 1

haber process

Answer 1

used to make ammonia

Question 2

what’s unique about the haber process

Answer 2

reversible reaction

Question 3

use of ammonia

Answer 3

explosives and fertilizer

Question 4

why is ammonia by itself not a good fertilizer

Answer 4

• gas at roop temp
• reversible reaction at room temp(will turn back into nitrogen and hydrogen)
• ammonia is a base whereas salts containing ammonia are neutral
• salts are soluble in water

Question 5

optimum conditions for the haber process

Answer 5

• low temp
• high pressure
• powdered iron catalyst

Question 6

temp used during the haber proccess and reasoning

Answer 6

450°C
Compromise temp = compromise between reaction rate and yield

Question 7

pressure used in the haber process and reasoning

Answer 7

200Atm (medium pressure)
High pressure means high operating cost, equipment to understand pressure, safety

Question 8

describe collection of ammonia after the haber process

Answer 8

ammonia has the highest bpt so will condense first. N2 and H2 are reused.

Question 10

how to make ammonia a better fertilizer

Answer 10

react with phosphoric acid to make ammoniumphosphate

Question 11

contact process

Answer 11

used to make sulfuric acid

Question 12

raw materials of contact process and where to get them

Answer 12

sulfur (crude oil), oxygen (from air), water

Question 13

first step in contact process

Answer 13

S + O —-blue flame—> SO2

Question 14

second step in contact process

Answer 14

2SO2 + O2 <====> 2SO3

Question 15

theoretical third step in contact process and why dont we use it?

Answer 15

SO3 + H2O ——> H2SO4
too exothermic!!

Question 16

actual third step and why is it better?

Answer 16

SO3 + H2SO4 —> H2S2O7 (oleum)
H2S2O7 + H2O —–> 2H2SO4

much less exothermic and still 98 percent pure!!

Question 17

optimum conditions for contact process (reversible step 2SO2 + O2<===> 2SO3)

Answer 17

2SO2 + O2<===> 2SO3

• high pressure
• low temp
• vanadium (V) oxide powdered catalyst

Question 18

actual pressure for contact process and why?

Answer 18

1 Atm (very low!!) yield is already 98 percent. the increase in yield isn’t worth the energy costs

Question 19

actual temp for contact process and why?

Answer 19

400-450ºC
compromise temp between yield and reaction rate

Question 20

why do we use ammonium salts as fertilizers instead of just ammonia???

Answer 20

• ammonia is a base, ammonium salts are neutral
• salts are solids at room temp whereas ammonia is a agas
• salts are soluble in water
• reversible reaction!!!! will just turn back into hydrogen and nitrogen lmao