State the conditions used in the Haber process.

About 450 °C, about 200 atmospheres and an iron catalyst.

What does the symbol ⇌ mean?

The reaction is reversible: it can go in both directions.

What is the role of the iron catalyst?

It speeds up the reaction without being used up.

Why is a low temperature not used in the Haber process?

The rate of reaction would be too slow.

Why is a very high pressure not used?

It would need stronger, more expensive equipment, use more energy and be more dangerous.

What happens to unreacted nitrogen and hydrogen?

They are recycled back into the reactor.

Why do farmers use fertilisers?

To replace nutrients such as nitrogen taken from the soil, increasing crop yield.

Name one environmental problem caused by excess fertiliser.

Algal blooms in rivers (eutrophication), which kill fish.

List five factors in choosing industrial conditions.

Cost, rate, yield, sustainability and safety.

Industrial processesIB MYP Chemistry: Flashcards

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What is made in the Haber process?

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What is made in the Haber process?: Ammonia, NH₃.
Write the equation for the Haber process.: N₂ + 3H₂ ⇌ 2NH₃
State the conditions used in the Haber process.: About 450 °C, about 200 atmospheres and an iron catalyst.
What does the symbol ⇌ mean?: The reaction is reversible: it can go in both directions.
What is the role of the iron catalyst?: It speeds up the reaction without being used up.
Why is a low temperature not used in the Haber process?: The rate of reaction would be too slow.
Why is a very high pressure not used?: It would need stronger, more expensive equipment, use more energy and be more dangerous.
What happens to unreacted nitrogen and hydrogen?: They are recycled back into the reactor.
Why do farmers use fertilisers?: To replace nutrients such as nitrogen taken from the soil, increasing crop yield.
What is the equation for making ammonium nitrate?: NH₃ + HNO₃ → NH₄NO₃
Name one environmental problem caused by excess fertiliser.: Algal blooms in rivers (eutrophication), which kill fish.
Which acid is made in the Contact process?: Sulfuric acid, H₂SO₄.
Which catalyst is used in the Contact process?: Vanadium(V) oxide.
List five factors in choosing industrial conditions.: Cost, rate, yield, sustainability and safety.

Exam questions on Industrial processes

Ammonia is made on a large scale in the Haber process. Nitrogen from the air reacts with hydrogen at about 450 °C and 200 atmospheres pressure, over an iron catalyst: N₂ + 3H₂ ⇌ 2NH₃. The mixture leaving the reactor contains ammonia, nitrogen and hydrogen.
Explain why the unreacted nitrogen and hydrogen leaving the reactor are recycled.2 marks
A fertiliser factory in Brazil uses ammonia from the Haber process to make ammonium nitrate, NH₄NO₃, which is sold to farmers who grow maize.
Explain why farmers add nitrogen fertilisers to the soil.2 marks
Sulfuric acid is made on a large scale by the Contact process. Sulfur is burned in air to make sulfur dioxide. The sulfur dioxide is then converted to sulfur trioxide, SO₃, in a reversible reaction using a vanadium(V) oxide catalyst at about 450 °C. Finally the sulfur trioxide is absorbed to make concentrated sulfuric acid.
Write balanced symbol equations for the burning of sulfur and for the conversion of sulfur dioxide to sulfur trioxide.3 marks

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Written by the Exaim team, led by Shaun Daswani (Head of Upper Secondary, Improve ME Institute; MSc Financial Mathematics, Imperial College London; BSc, UCL) and Jason Daswani (operational lead, Improve ME Institute; LSE).