HSC CHEMISTRY LESSON PLAN 21

2.1.1 Identify and describe the industrial uses of ammonia

Ammonia (NH3) is a very strong and pungent gas used in household cleaners and also used in
industry to large extent.

Over 80% of the ammonia produced by industry is actually used in the production of fertilisers such
as ammonium nitrate and ammonium sulfate.

NH3 (g) + HNO3 (aq) NH4NO3 (aq)

NH3 (g) + H2SO4 (aq) (NH4)2SO4 (aq)

Fertiliser:

 In agriculture and horticulture ammonia is applied to crops as either a solid or liquid

 It is used as ammonia solution as ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate or ammonium
phosphate
 The nitrogen in the ammonia is an essential plant nutrient

Production of chemicals:

Ammonia is used in the as a raw material in the production of nitric acid (a strong oxidising agent)
which in turn is used to manufacture:

 synthetic fibres such as nylon

 and explosives such as TNT

Metal extraction (nickel and gold) as well as production of cyanide (used in gold extraction)
Cleaning agent:

 Ammonia solution (ammonium hydroxide) destroys bacteria so it is a component of many

household cleaners such as floor and bathroom cleaners.
 It is a component in medicinal products such as mouthwashes and antiseptic soaps
 Also used in washing products such as nappy washes and fabric softeners

Weak base:

Ammonia is used to safely neutralise acidic by-products in petroleum refining and in acid spills. Being
a weak base, it generates heat slowly during neutralisation (an exothermic process) so does not
cause further burning.

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2.1.2 Identify that ammonia can be synthesised from its component gases, nitrogen and hydrogen

Ammonia is prepared from its elements via the catalytic reaction known as the Haber process. The
reaction is an exothermic process. The reaction is an example of a reversible exothermic equilibrium:

N2 (g) + 3H2 (g) 2NH3 (g) ∆𝐻 = −92𝑘𝐽/𝑚𝑜𝑙

 Nitrogen is obtained from distillation of liquid air, by cooling air to -190⁰C, at which point N2
is a gas but O2 is a liquid that can be removed
 Hydrogen can be produced by:
o Electrolysis of water (except where electricity is plentiful and cheap)
o The NaOH industry
o Mixing natural gas with steam and a nickel catalyst produces carbon dioxide, carbon
monoxide and hydrogen. The carbon monoxide must be removed, as it poisons the
iron catalyst in the Haber process:
CH4 (g) + H2O (g) CO (g) + 3H2 (g)
OR

CH4 (g) + 2H2O (g) CO2 (g) + 4H2 (g)

CO can be converted to carbon dioxide in a reaction resulting in more hydrogen gas:

CO (g) + H2O (g) CO2 (g) + H2 (g)

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2.1.3 Describe that synthesis of ammonia occurs as a reversible reaction that will reach equilibrium

Production of ammonia is a reversible reaction which as a result does not reach completion. Rather
when the forward reaction equals the reverse reaction, it is said to in a state of equilibrium.

Hydrogen and nitrogen react very slowly to form ammonia and, at the same time, the ammonia
decomposes into nitrogen and hydrogen. This means that the reaction is reversible and can be
written as:

N2(g) + 3H2(g) 2NH3(g) + HEAT

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2.1.4 Identify the reaction of hydrogen with nitrogen as exothermic

Overall, energy is released in the reaction of hydrogen with nitrogen to form ammonia. There is less
chemical energy in the product than in the reactants. A lot of energy is needed to break up the
molecules of N2 and H2.

The energy needed to break the bonds in hydrogen and nitrogen is less than the energy given out
when the new bonds in ammonia are formed (hence, it is exothermic). The bonds in ammonia are
weaker than the bonds in the reactants (hence the equilibrium lies to left)

The equation for the production of ammonia from nitrogen and hydrogen can be written as:

N2 (g) + 3H2 (g) 2NH3 (g) ∆𝐻 = −92𝑘𝐽/𝑚𝑜𝑙

Note: ∆H means change in enthalpy. It is negative in this case which indicates that the reaction as
written is exothermic and 92kJ of heat energy is released by the balanced reaction.

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2.1.5 Explain why the rate of reaction is increased by higher temperatures

For any reaction, the particles of the reactants must collide with each other with a certain amount of
energy to overcome the activation energy barrier. This energy is referred to as the activation energy.
By increasing the temperature of the reaction, we apply thermal energy which is converted to kinetic
energy for the particles of the reactants and so they move faster with higher amounts of energy so
more successful collisions can occur. In the Haber process, these increased collisions mean that both
the forward and reverse reaction in the equilibrium have been increased allowing equilibrium to be
achieved much faster.

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2.1.6 Explain why the yield of product in the Haber process is reduced at higher temperatures using
Le Chatelier’s principle

N2 (g) + 3H2 (g) 2NH3 (g) ∆𝐻 = −92𝑘𝐽/𝑚𝑜𝑙

It is important to remember that just by increasing heat, more ammonia will not be produced. The
yield of ammonia describes the amount of ammonia that will be formed at the point of equilibrium.
We can increase the speed at which equilibrium is established by increasing temperature; however it
is an exothermic reaction. An increase in temperature will mean that the system will want to
counteract the change the change by decreasing temperature in accordance with Le Chatelier’s
principle. As a result the endothermic reaction will be favoured. The forward reaction is exothermic
and thus the reverse is endothermic and will be favoured. This will result in a decrease in ammonia
concentrations but an increase in nitrogen and hydrogen concentrations.
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Questions

1. Describe 2 uses of ammonia. (3 marks)

2. Explain why a compromise temperature is utilised to maintain yield and reaction rate. (4 marks)

3. Identify the sources of the components used to synthesis ammonia. (2 marks)