Industrial Processes

Question 1

What can the ammonia made from the Haber Process be used for?

Answer 1

To make nitric acid, which reacts with ammonia to produce ammonium nitrate, a fertiliser

Question 2

What are the raw materials needed for the Haber Process?

Answer 2

Air, water and methane

Question 3

How is nitrogen obtained from the air for use in the Haber Process?

Answer 3

By fractional distillation

Question 4

How is hydrogen produced for use in the Haber Process?

Answer 4

Methane reacts with steam to form carbon dioxide and hydrogen

Question 5

What are the conditions needed for the Haber Process?

Answer 5

200atm, 450*C and an iron catalyst

Question 6

What is a reversible reaction?

Answer 6

A reaction that goes forwards and backwards at the same time

Question 7

What do reversible reactions reach in a closed system?

Answer 7

An equilibrium

Question 8

Why is a temperature of 450*C used in the Haber Process, despite meaning a lower % yield of ammonia?

Answer 8

As the forward reaction is exothermic it means that lower temperatures produce a bigger yield, as ammonia molecules start to break up again at higher temperatures. However, the lower temperatures mean that the rate of reaction is very slow, and so 450*C is used

Question 9

Why is a pressure of 200atm used in the Haber Process?

Answer 9

As the forward reaction produces a smaller number of molecules, a higher pressure means a larger yield of ammonia. However, higher pressures require stronger and more expensive pipes and reaction vessels. Therefore, a medium pressure of 200atm is used

Question 10

How is nitric acid made?

Answer 10

Ammonia + oxygen –> Nitrogen monoxide + water

Nitrogen monoxide + oxygen –> Nitrogen dioxide

Nitrogen dioxide + water + oxygen –> nitric acid

Question 11

What catalyst is used when making nitric acid, and at what temperature?

Answer 11

Platinum catalyst at 850*C

Question 12

Is the reaction when making nitric acid exothermic endothermic?

Answer 12

Exothermic, the heat given out is sufficient to keep the reaction going

Question 13

What happens to sugar after sulfuric acid is added?

Answer 13

It turns yellow during the reaction, and after is a tall black column of pure carbon

Question 14

What happens to copper sulfate crystals after sulfuric acid is added?

Answer 14

It forms a white powder on the outside during the reaction, and after breaks down into a white powder

Question 15

What is a dehydrating agent?

Answer 15

Something that can remove water from compounds

Question 16

What is the contact process used for?

Answer 16

To make sulfuric acid

Question 17

What is the first step of the contact process?

Answer 17

Sulphur is burnt in air to form sulphur dioxide

S + O2 –> SO2

Question 18

What is the second step of the contact process?

Answer 18

Sulphur dioxide is reacted with excess air over a vanadium catalyst at 420*C, at pressures not much over atmospheric to give over 95% conversion to sulphur trioxide

Question 19

What is the third step of the contact process?

Answer 19

SO3 is absorbed in H2SO4

Question 20

Is the final reaction of the contact process exothermic or endothermic?

Answer 20

Exothermic

Question 21

Why is the SO3 absorbed in H2SO4 rather than in water in the contact process?

Answer 21

If water is used to absorb sulphur trioxide, the heat produced would create a corrosive acid smog that is dangerous

Question 22

What is the Haber Process used for?

Answer 22

To manufacture ammonia from nitrogen and hydrogen

Question 23

How is oleum formed?

Answer 23

By reacting sulfuric acid with sulfuric trioxide

Question 24

What is the balanced symbol equation for the formation of oleum?

Answer 24

So2 + H2SO4 –> H2S2O7

Question 25

Give the balanced symbol equation for the reaction between sugar and sulfuric acid

Answer 25

C12H22O11 + H2SO4 -> 12C + 11H20