Principle behind Haber’s process :– This method involves the direct ambination of Nitrogen and hydrogen as follows
This reaction is reversible, exothermic and followed by decrease in volume.
Accoding to le-chotelier’s principle the optimum condition for greater production of ammonia gas are
(i) High pressure – High pressure (200 atm) shifts the equilibrium.
(ii) Low temperature – Since this reaction is exothermic, the production of ammonaia gas should be high at law temperature. But at low temperature N2 and H2 gases react very slowly. Hence optimum temperature of 450–550°C is mainatained.
(iii) Catalyst – At the optimum temperature 450–550°C the equilibrium may shift to backward direction. To speed up the reaction towards forward direction. Catalyst is used.
Finely divided irm + Molybdenum as promoter.
