Haber Process

What are fertilisers?

Important chemicals used to improve the growth of crop plants.

How important is ammonia?

A vital component of many fertilisers.

How is ammonia produced?

In the Haber process

Name the reversible reaction for ammonia: (word)

Nitrogen + hydrogen ⇌ ammonia

Name the reversible reaction for ammonia: (symbol)

N₂ + 2H₂ ⇌ 2NH₃

What affects the yield for ammonia and why?

The conditions affect the yield, as it’s a reversible reaction.

What’s step 1 for ammonia produced by the Haber process?

Hydrogen from natural gas and nitrogen from the air are pumped in.

What’s step 2 for ammonia produced by the Haber process?

The nitrogen/hydrogen mixture is compressed to a pressure of 200 atm and heated to 450°C

What’s step 3 for ammonia produced by the Haber process?

Reaction vessel containing iron catalyst.

What’s step 4 for ammonia produced by the Haber process?

The mixture of gases emerging from the reactor is cooled and ammonia liquefies and is separated.

What’s step 5 for ammonia produced by the Haber process?

Unreacted nitrogen and hydrogen are returned to the reaction vessel via the compressor.