The haber process + fertilisers Flashcards
What is ammonia made up of?
NH3
Ammonia uses
Nitrogen based fertilisers
How can we produce ammonia?
The Haber process
Haber process equation
N₂ + 3H₂ <——> 2NH₃
Where do we get nitrogen for the haber process?
Extracted from the air
Where do we get hydrogen for the haber process from?
Product of reacting methane with steam
Conditions for haber process
Iron catalyst
450ºC
200 atm pressure
Process of the haber process
Pass purified nitrogen + hydrogen over the iron catalyst
At 450°C and 200 atm
Thus molecules react and form ammonia
But because it’s reversible some of it breaks back down to N and H
Which is recycled again over catalyst
Ammonia then cooled to turn it back to liquid so it’s removed
Why do we cool the ammonia produced back to liquid?
To increase the yield
Why would we decrease the temperature of the haber process?
Foreword reaction is exothermic
So via Le chatelier’s principle, decreasing the temperature will shift the equilibrium forward
Thus causing a higher yield of ammonia
But why would we increase the temperature of the haber process?
A low temperature means low rate of reaction
Because the molecules have less thermal energy which can be transferred to kinetic energy
So with less movement means less successful collisions per second
Which isnt economical as it produces ammonia too slow = paying more for fuel costs
How do we decide the temperature for the haber process?
Can’t have too low of a temp as that causes a slow rate of reaction that isn’t economical
Can’t have too high temp as it decreases the yield of ammonia
Also high temperature is a higher fuel cost
450°c = compromise temperature
Why would we increase the pressure of the process?
High pressure causes equilibrium to shift to the side with less particles which is the forewords reaction
So increasing pressure causes increase in ammonia yield
Also a higher pressure causes higher rate of reaction as there are more particles in a given volume
So more successful collisions per second
Why would we decrease the pressure of the reaction?
Having gases at a very high pressure is expensive and dangerous
As it requires extra cost for specialist equipment to keep it at this level
How do we decide the pressure of the haber process?
Can’t be too low as with a high pressure, it will increase the yield as equilibrium shifts forward
Also causes higher rate as more particles in a given volume
Can’t be too high as that’s expensive and dangerous
200atm is a good compromise