The Haber Process
Chemistry: AQA GCSE Higher, topic 10.4.2
The Haber Process
By reacting nitrogen with hydrogen, the Haber process yields ammonia. Nitrogen-based fertilisers can be made from this ammonia. Farmers can then add the fertiliser back into the soil. The steps involved in the Haber process are:
Collect and purify nitrogen and hydrogen gases
Pass over iron catalyst
- Nitrogen and hydrogen are passed over an iron catalyst at a temperature of 450°C and a pressure of 200 atm. This results in the production of ammonia gas.
- This reaction is reversible, so not all of the ammonia stays as ammonia - some will break back down to give the reactants, nitrogen and hydrogen.
Condensation
- The ammonia gas cools down in a condenser. The ammonia is removed from the condenser once it has become a liquid.
Recycling
- We can recycle any unused hydrogen and nitrogen back into the process to create more ammonia. This means that waste of valuable reactants can be avoided!
Test yourself on The Haber Process
What temperature do nitrogen and hydrogen react at over the iron catalyst in the Haber process?
What pressure do nitrogen and hydrogen react at over the iron catalyst in the Haber process?
Why does the Haber process not convert all of the nitrogen and hydrogen into ammonia?
The Haber Process
What can be made from the ammonia produced by the Haber process?