Question

Which catalyst is used in Haber-Bosch process.

Answer 1

Haber Bosch process:

Ammonia can be prepared from Hydrogen using the Haber Bosch process.

Conditions for Haber Bosch process:

• Pressure: 200 atm
• Temperature: 450^oC
• Catalyst: Iron(Fe)
• Promoter: Molybdenum(Mo)

Chemical Reaction:

• Hydrogen combines with nitrogen in the ratio of 3:1 by volume, in the presence of iron as catalyst and molybdenum as a promoter at a pressure of 200 atm and 450^oC giving ammonia

$\underset{\mathrm{Nitrogen}}{{\mathrm{N}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)}+\underset{\mathrm{Hydrogen}}{3{\mathrm{H}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)}\underset{\mathrm{Fe}/\mathrm{Mo}}{\overset{200\mathrm{atm}{450}^{\mathrm{o}}\mathrm{C}}{\rightleftharpoons }}\underset{\mathrm{Ammonia}}{2{\mathrm{NH}}_3}\left(\mathrm{g}\right)$

• The reaction is a reversible reaction in which the rate of forward and backward reactions is equal.

Therefore, The catalyst used in the Haber-Bosch process is Iron (sponge iron).