Question

What important industrial process starts with reaction for the catalytic oxidation of ammonia? Name the catalyst used.

Answer 1

Catalytic oxidation of Ammonia $\left({\mathrm{NH}}_3\right)$:

• When ammonia gas and oxygen are passed over heated platinum, a catalyst, ammonia is oxidized to form colourless nitric oxide. When this gas comes in contact with air, it turns brown.
• $$\begin{gathered} 4{\mathrm{NH}}_3\left(\mathrm{g}\right)+5{\mathrm{O}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)\underset{800°\mathrm{C}}{\overset{\mathrm{Pt}}{\to }}4\mathrm{NO}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)+6{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\left(\mathrm{g}\right)+\text{Heat} \\ 2\mathrm{NO}\uparrow \left(\mathrm{g}\right)+{\mathrm{O}}_2\uparrow \left(\mathrm{g}\right)⟶2{\mathrm{NO}}_2\uparrow \left(\mathrm{g}\right)(\mathrm{Reddish}\mathrm{brown}) \end{gathered}$$
• This ${\mathrm{NO}}_2$ reacts with water to produce a mixture of nitric acid and nitrous acid.
• $2{\mathrm{NO}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)+{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)⟶{\mathrm{HNO}}_3\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)+{\mathrm{HNO}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)$

Therefore, industrial process starts with reaction for the catalytic oxidation of ammonia is Ostwald process. The catalyst used is platinum.