ammonia

• what is the chemical equation to produce ammonia ?

  N2 (g) + 3H2 (g) -> 2NH3 (g)
• what is the process in which ammonia is produced ?

  haber process
• how is nitrogen gas obtained ?

  fractional distillation of liquid air
• how is hydrogen gas obtained ?

  cracking or breaking down of crude oil fractions
• what are the optimal conditions for the haber process ?

  • pressure of 250 atm
  • temperature of 450 degrees
  • presence of a finely- divided iron catalyst
• describe the haber process

  1. nitrogen and hydrogen gas are mixed in a 1 : 3 ratio by volume
  2. the gas mixture is compressed to 250 atm
  3. the compressed gases flow over the iron catalyst and are heated to 450 degrees, only about 15 % of the mixture leaving the chamber is ammonia
  4. mixture of ammonia, nitrogen and hydrogen is obtained and cooled
  5. ammonia gas condenses into a liquid and is pumped into tanks and stored under pressure
  6. the unreacted hydrogen and nitrogen are transferred back into the converter to be recycled