Question

Write the equation for the reaction in Haber’s process that forms ammonia.

Answer 1

Hint:Haber’s process is the suitable industrial process for the manufacturing of Ammonia. Ammonia is a colourless pungent smelling gas used mostly in production of fertilizers. It is widely manufactured by the Haber process from nitrogen (${N_2}$​) and hydrogen (${H_2}$​).

Complete answer:
Haber process which is also known as Haber – Bosch process is basically one of the most efficient and successful industrial procedures to be adopted for the production of ammonia (${\mathbf{N}}{{\mathbf{H}}_{\mathbf{3}}}$).
Haber's process for the synthesis of ammonia is based on the reaction of nitrogen (${N_2}$) and hydrogen (${H_2}$). In this process, the reaction is an exothermic reaction one where there is a release of energy. Nitrogen and hydrogen are taken in the ratio of $1:3$ by volume. The chemical reaction is shown below:
${{\mathbf{N}}_{\mathbf{2}}}\left( {\mathbf{g}} \right) + {\mathbf{3}}{{\mathbf{H}}_{\mathbf{2}}}\left( {\mathbf{g}} \right) \to {\mathbf{2N}}{{\mathbf{H}}_{\mathbf{3}}}\left( {\mathbf{g}} \right)$ $\Delta {\mathbf{H}} = - {\mathbf{92KJmo}}{{\mathbf{l}}^{ - {\mathbf{1}}}}$
Nitrogen (${N_2}$) in the reaction is obtained by separating nitrogen from the air through the liquefaction and hydrogen (H2) is obtained from natural gas by steam reforming.
${\mathbf{C}}{{\mathbf{H}}_{\mathbf{4}}}\left( {\mathbf{g}} \right) + {{\mathbf{H}}_{\mathbf{2}}}{\mathbf{O}} \to {{\mathbf{H}}_{\mathbf{2}}}\left( {\mathbf{g}} \right) + {\mathbf{CO}}\left( {\mathbf{g}} \right)$
The reaction is affected by temperature, pressure and catalyst on the composition of the equilibrium mixture, the rate of the reaction and the economics of the process.

Note:
It is very necessary to remove carbon monoxide (CO) when ammonia is prepared by Haber's process because CO acts as a poison and adversely affects the activity of iron catalyst, used in the process. CO also promotes molybdenum which are used in the Heber's process. Moreover, it is likely to combine with iron to form iron carbonyl $1Fe{\left( {CO} \right)_5}1Fe{\left( {CO} \right)_{5.}}$