Industrial processesIB MYP Chemistry: Mind map

Exam questions on Industrial processes

1. 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
2. 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
3. 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