Contact & Haber process

Haber Process

Making Ammonia (NH3) from Nitrogen and Hydrogen

Where does the nitrogen come from?

Fractional distillation of liquid air

Where does the hydrogen come from?

Methane from natural gas

Conditions for Haber Process

• Temp: 450°

• Pressure: 200 atm

• Catalyst: Iron

Why is the temperature for the Haber process 450°?

The temp is high enough for a good rate of reaction and low enough for a high yield

Contact process

Making Sulfuric acid (H2SO4)

Stages of Contact Process

1. Burning fossil fuels containing Sulfur

   S + O2 —> SO2

2. Oxidation of sulfur dioxide to sulfur trioxide (reversible reaction)

   2SO₂ + O₂ —> 2SO₃

3. Sulfur trioxide is bubbled through H2SO4 to form Oleum (H2S2O7)

   H2SO4+SO3→H2S2O7

4. Oleum is reacted with water to form sulfuric acid

   H2S2O7 + H2O → 2 H2SO4

Conditions for Contact Process

Temp: 450°

Pressure: 2 atm

Catalyst: Vanadium(V) Oxide (V2O5)

How to convert atm to kPa

atm x 100 = kPa