THE HABER PROCESS

Question 1

what is the equation for the haber process?

Answer 1

nitrogen + hydrogen <> ammonia

Question 2

what does the haver process used for?

Answer 2

making ammonia used in NPK fertilisers

Question 3

what are the 5 steps of the haber process?

Answer 3

1) nitrogen extracted from the air and hydrogen obtained from natural gas are pumped through pipes
2) the pressure of the mixture of gases is increased to 200 atmospheres
3) the pressurised gases are heated to 450C and passed through a tank containing an iron catalyst
4) the reaction mixture cools and ammonia liquifies
5) any unread red nitrogen and hydrogen are recycled back into the process

Question 4

what is the reason for iron in the haber process?

Answer 4

to act as a catalyst which speeds up the rate of reaction

Question 5

why are unreacted hydrogeen and nitrogen recycled?

Answer 5

it is cost effective and increases total yield

Question 6

what is the pressure the haber process is carried out at, and why?

Answer 6

200 atmospheres

it is as high as it can be without it being too expensive or dangerous

Question 7

what is the temperature that the haber process is carried out at? and why?

Answer 7

450C

it’s a compromise between maximum yield and speed of reaction

Question 8

some factors affect the position of equilibrium of this reversible reaction, what will increasing the temperature more than 450C do?

Answer 8

this will push the equilibrium to the exothermic forward reaction

this pushes the equilibrium towards the hydrogen and nitrogen

Question 9

what is dynamic equilibrium?

Answer 9

when both sides of the reaction take place at the same rate