Question

The industrial preparation of nitric acid by Ostwald's process involves:

• A. reduction of ammonia
• B. oxidation of ammonia
• C. hydrogenation of ammonia
• D. formation of ammonia

Answer 1

The correct option is B oxidation of ammonia

The preparation of nitric acid by Ostwald's process involves the following reactions:

$4N{H}_3\left(g\right)+5O_2\left(g\right)\stackrel{catalyst}{⟶}4NO\left(g\right)+6H_{2}O\left(g\right)$

$2NO\left(g\right)+O_2\left(g\right)\leftrightharpoons 2N{O}_2\left(g\right)$

$3N{O}_2+H_{2}O\left(g\right)\to 2HN{O}_3+NO\left(g\right)$

The first step involves the oxidation of $N{H}_3$ to $NO$.

Hence, the industrial preparation of nitric acid by Ostwald's process involves the oxidation of ammonia.