The Haber Process

• Reversible reactions may not got to completion
• Reversible reactions can still be used efficiently in continuous processes , such as the Haber process
• The Haber process is used to manufacture ammonia - ammonia is used in nitrogen-based fertilisers
• What are the raw materials produced from the Haber process?

  Purified nitrogen (From the fractional distillation of liquid air) - And hydrogen (From natural gas or steam)
• In the Haber process , the nitrogen and hydrogen are passed over an iron catalyst at moderate temperature (about 450 degrees Celsius), and high pressure (about 200 atmospheres)
• During the Haber Process , some of the nitrogen and hydrogen react to form ammonia - Because the reaction is reversible , some of the ammonia produced will break down again into nitrogen and hydrogen - On cooling , the ammonia liquefies and can be removed from the mixture - The unreacted nitrogen and hydrogen are recycled
• What is the word equation for the reaction that takes place in the Haber Process?

  nitrogen + hydrogen ⇌ ammonia
• What is the symbol equation for the reaction that takes place in the Haber Process?


  N₂ + 3H₂ ⇌ 2NH₃
• The exact conditions used commercially in the Haber Process vary slightly with the availability and cost of raw materials and energy supplies