Chemistry: Industrial Production Of Ammonia/Haber process

Industrial production of ammonia

Ammonia is produced on a large scale by the reaction between Nitrogen and Hydrogen under high pressure and optimum temperature in the presence of a suitable catalyst. This method is known as Haber process.
Hydrogen is obtained by reacting methane with steam, or through the cracking of oil, and nitrogen by fractional distillation of air. The mixture of nitrogen and hydrogen going into the reactor is in the ratio of 1: 3. The gases are pressurized to about 150-300atm inside the compressor. The pressurized gases pumped into a tank containing beds of iron catalyst. 450 - 500°C is a compromise temperature producing a reasonably high proportion of ammonia. In these conditions hydrogen and nitrogen will react to form ammonia.
When the gases leave the reactor they are hot and at a very high pressure. Ammonia is easily liquefied under pressure as long as it isn't too hot, and so the temperature of the mixture is lowered enough for the ammonia to turn into a liquid. The nitrogen and hydrogen remain as gases even under these high pressures, and can be recycled.
N2 + 3H2 2NH3+ Heat
The state at which the rate of backward reaction equals the forward reaction is called equilibrium state.
Reversible reactions do not stop itself. These chemical reactions take place in both directions. At a particular temperature, the reactants and products reach at an equilibrium state and the following changes gets unseen.
The changes in concentration, temperature and pressure influence the equilibrium state. The result of the changes due to the change in there factors was predicted by a scientist named Le-chatelier.