The Ostwald Process

Ammonia has many uses but the biggest is the production of nitric acid.

Reactants:

• Oxygen (from the air)

• Ammonia (from the Haber Process)

Catalyst - Platinum at 800 degree celsius

Platinum is heated at the start and then the whole process is exothermic.

• oxygen and ammonia react to produces nitrogen monoxide

• nitrogen monoxide then reacts with more oxygen to produces nitrogen dioxide

• nitrogen dioxide reacts with oxygen and water to produces nitric acid

Remember Open

Ostwald

Platinum (catalyst)
Exothermic
Nitric acid