Question

Name the catalyst which is used in the oxidation of ammonia to prepare nitric oxide. Name the other product of the oxidation reaction.

Answer 1

• Platinum is the catalyst used in the preparation of nitric oxide.
• The catalyst glows since the catalytic oxidation of ammonia is an exothermic reaction.
• The process is known as Ostwald's process which is used for the manufacture of nitric acid.
• $\underset{\mathrm{ammonia}}{\underset{}{4{\mathrm{NH}}_3}}+\underset{\mathrm{oxygen}}{\underset{}{5{\mathrm{O}}_2}}\underset{\mathrm{Pt}}{\overset{800°\mathrm{C}}{\to }}\underset{\mathrm{nitric}\mathrm{oxide}}{\underset{}{4\mathrm{NO}}}+\underset{\mathrm{water}}{\underset{}{6{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}}}+∆$