Question

Which catalyst is used in Haber's process?

Answer 1

1. Catalyst is used in a chemical reaction to speed up the process without itself taking part in the reaction.
2. A promoter is a chemical element or compound that is being used to enhance the activity of a catalyst.
3. Haber's process is generally used for the production of ammonia.
4. For the production of Ammonia Nitrogen is reacted with Hydrogen produced by natural gas.
5. The reaction is an exothermic reaction and always occurs reversibly in nature.
6. According to Le Chatlier's principle, low temperature, and high pressure is favored for such a reaction to proceed.
7. When 1 volume of Nitrogen is reacted with 3 volumes of Hydrogen in the presence of Iron and molybdenum under high temperature about $400°\mathrm{C}$.
8. The finely divided catalyst is used to provide the surface for the reaction to occur.
9. The chemical reaction is represented as follows:
   $$\begin{gathered} {\mathrm{N}}_2\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)+3{\mathrm{H}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)\underset{400°\mathrm{C},250\mathrm{atm}}{\overset{\mathrm{Fe}/\mathrm{Mo}}{\to }}2{\mathrm{NH}}_3\left(\mathrm{aq}\right) \\ \mathrm{Nitrogen}\mathrm{Hydrogen}\mathrm{Ammonia} \end{gathered}$$
10. Hence, the catalyst used in the reaction is Iron and Molybdenum.