Question

Explain the Haber's process of manufacturing Ammonia with a neat diagram.

Answer 1

On an industrial scale, ammonia $\left(N{H}_3\right)$ is prepared by Haber’s process. The constituents of ammonia $N_2$ and $H_2$ combine in a ratio of $1:3$.

${N_2}_{\left(g\right)}+3{H_2}_{\left(g\right)}\rightleftharpoons 2{N{H}_3}_{\left(g\right)}$

The reaction proceeds in the forward direction with a remarkable decrease in volume and the reaction is exothermic. In accordance with Le Chatlier’s principle, high pressure and low temperature favour the better yield of ammonia. The optimum conditions for the production of ammonia are a pressure of approx $200atm$, a temperature of approx $700K$ and the catalyst iron oxide along with a promoter, $K_{2}O$ or ${Al}_2{O}_3$, are used to obtain better yields of ammonia.