[CHEM] Chapter 7.3 - Ammonia

1 DARRELL ER (COPYRIGHTED) © TOPIC 7.3: AMMONIA DARRELL ER (COPYRIGHTED) ©

2 CHAPTER ANALYSIS THE ABOUT TIME EXAM WEIGHTAGE • Relatively straight forward chapter • 1 key concept • Usually tested in MCQs • Tested together with chapters like Rate of Reaction & Energy Changes • Light overall weightage • Constitute to 1.5% of marks for past 5 year papers DARRELL ER (COPYRIGHTED) ©

3 AMMONIA RAW MATERIALS (H2 & N2) HABER PROCESS KEY CONCEPT DARRELL ER (COPYRIGHTED) ©

4 AMMONIA AMMONIA Ammonia (NH3) is a weak alkali when it is in its aqueous state, as it partially dissociates in water to produce low concentration of OH– ions. NH3 (g) + H2O (l) ⇌ NH4 + (aq) + OH- (aq) ⇌ reversible reactions will never be fully completed. Displacement of ammonia from its salts An alkali has the ability to displace the ammonia from an ammonium salt. For example, potassium hydroxide displaces ammonia from ammonium carbonate when the solution is gently heated: 2KOH (aq) + (NH4)2CO3 (aq)  K2CO3 (aq) + NH3 (g) + 2H2O (l) *Chemical reaction for alkali (acid & bases)! DARRELL ER (COPYRIGHTED) © Raw materials Nitrogen and hydrogen are the raw materials that are used in the manufacturing of ammonia, via the Haber process. Nitrogen is obtained through the process of fractional distillation of liquid air. Hydrogen is obtained through the cracking of crude oil. Iron would act as a catalyst to increase the rate of reaction.

5 HABER PROCESS HABER PROCESS Analysis: As seen from the graph, the yield of ammonia increases when pressures are higher and temperatures are lower. Hence, to maximise the yield of ammonia, theoretically, the pressure levels should be increased and the temperature should be decreased. However in reality, optimal conditions are kept at 450°C and pressure of 200 atm. This is because: - At pressures higher than 200 atm, the machines would be more costly and outweigh the benefits of that incremental yield. Also, there will be greater safety risks at higher pressures. - At temperatures lower than 450°C, the rates of reaction would be slowed down too much. It would be more cost efficient to use a higher temperature to increases the rate despite lowering the percentage yield. - Due to the recycling of reactants, 98% of the reactants are eventually converted into ammonia. DARRELL ER (COPYRIGHTED) © Haber process N2(g) + 3H2(g) ⇌ 2NH3 (g) In the process, nitrogen and hydrogen gases are mixed together in the ratio of 1:3. Conditions The Haber process is usually carried out at a temperature of 450°C, at a pressure of 200 atm and with finely divided iron catalyst.

6 HABER PROCESS HABER PROCESS • Nitrogen and hydrogen gases are mixed in a ratio of 1:3. • The mixture would be passed through a compressor, where a pressure of 200 atm is applied to the gas mixture and then passed through the conver