Question

What are the benefits of the Haber process?

Answer 1

Haber Process:

1. Haber's process, also known as the Haber-Bosch process, is a method for the preparation of ammonia.
2. The Haber Process combines Nitrogen from the air and Hydrogen derived mainly from natural gas (Methane) in order to produce Ammonia in the presence of Iron (Fe) or Molybdenum (Mo) catalyst.
3. Ammonia is produced by a reversible reaction and it is exothermic.
4. The reaction is shown below.
   $$\begin{gathered} {\mathrm{N}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)+3{\mathrm{H}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)\underset{400°\mathrm{C}\&200\mathrm{bar}}{\overset{\mathrm{Fe}/\mathrm{Mo}}{\to }}2{\mathrm{NH}}_3\left(\mathrm{g}\right) \\ \mathrm{Nitrogen}\mathrm{Hydrogen}\mathrm{Ammonia} \end{gathered}$$

The benefits of the process are shown below:

1. Ammonia formed is the main constituent of fertilizers.
2. This method is applied in various agriculture techniques and pharmaceuticals.
3. This is the most highly efficient process to convert the reactants into the product within the time and energy limitations.
4. The catalyst is used only for a particular reaction that is specific in nature.
5. The process is highly active under the optimum conditions of temperature and pressure.
6. The reaction activity increases in the presence of the catalyst.