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6.1.3 The Haber Process

The Haber Process

  • Ammonia is manufactured using the Haber Process 
  • More than 80% of the ammonia produced is used to produce fertiliser 
  • It is also used to make explosives and dyes
  • The reactants are hydrogen and nitrogen which are extracted from methane and the air respectively
  • The process occurs in five stages:
  • Stage 1: H2 and N2 gases are pumped into the compressor through pipes
  • Stage 2: The gases are compressed to about 200 atmospheres inside the compressor
  • Stage 3: The pressurised gases are pumped into a tank containing layers of catalytic iron beads at a temperature of 450°C. Some of the hydrogen and nitrogen react to form ammonia in the following reversible reaction

N2 (g) + 3H2 (g) ⇌ 2NH3 (g)

  • Stage 4: Unreacted H2 and N2 and product ammonia pass into a cooling tank.
  • The ammonia is liquefied and removed to pressurised storage vessels
  • Stage 5: The unreacted H2 and N2 gases are recycled back into the system

, IGCSE & GCSE Chemistry revision notes

The production of ammonia by the Haber Process

Exam Tip

The air contains 78% nitrogen and it is removed by fractional distillation. Hydrogen is derived from methane (CH4) in a process called steam reforming.

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