The Haber process

• What process is used for the manufacture of ammonia?

  The Haber process
• What is one of the main uses of ammonia?

  To make nitrogen-based fertilizers
• What are the raw materials for the Haber process?

  • Nitrogen
  • Hydrogen
• Where can nitrogen be extracted from for the Haber process?

  From the air
• How can hydrogen be produced for the Haber process?

  By reacting methane with steam
• What conditions are used in the Haber process regarding temperature and pressure?

  450 degrees Celsius and 200 atmospheres pressure
• What happens to some of the ammonia produced in the Haber process?

  It breaks back down into nitrogen and hydrogen
• How is the yield of ammonia increased in the Haber process?

  • Cooling the ammonia to turn it into a liquid
  • Recycling unreacted nitrogen and hydrogen
• What principle is used to explain how conditions for the Haber process are selected?

  Le Chatelier's principle
• What does Le Chatelier's principle state?

  If a system at equilibrium experiences a change, it will respond to counteract that change
• Why is a relatively cool temperature used in the Haber process despite it slowing the reaction?

  It shifts the equilibrium to the right, increasing ammonia yield
• What is the compromise temperature used in the Haber process?

  450 degrees Celsius
• How does pressure affect the equilibrium in the Haber process?

  A high pressure pushes the equilibrium to the right, increasing ammonia yield
• What is the compromise pressure used in the Haber process?

  200 atmospheres
• What is the role of the iron catalyst in the Haber process?

  It increases the rate of the reaction
• Does the catalyst affect the position of the equilibrium in the Haber process?

  No, the catalyst has no effect on the position of the equilibrium
• What factors must be balanced in the Haber process to optimize ammonia production?

  • Rate of reaction
  • Yield of ammonia
  • Cost and safety of high pressure
• How does temperature affect the yield of ammonia in the Haber process?

  Higher temperatures increase the rate but lower the yield
• How does pressure affect the yield of ammonia in the Haber process?

  Higher pressures increase the yield but are expensive and dangerous