Haber & Contact Process

• describe and explain the conditions used in the Haber process and
the Contact process, as examples of the importance of an
understanding of dynamic equilibrium in the chemical industry and
the application of Le Chatelier’s principle
 The decomposition of Hydrogen Iodide at 731 K

4.00 moles of HI in a 5.00 dm3 container was decomposed at 731 K. The amount of
I2 at equilibrium was found experimentally to be 0.442 mole. Calculate the value
of Kc.

2HI ⇌ H2 + I2
The Haber Process
 The Haber Process

use Le Chatelier’s principle in order to get

higher yield of ammonia
Why use such a high temperature? Doesn’t
lowering the temperature favour the
exothermic reaction and maximise yield?
A major drawback of using lower
temperatures is that the rate of reaction is
much slower.
Time is money in the manufacturer’s eyes. It
would not be cost-effective to wait a long
time for a high yield.
A higher temperature reduces yield but
equilibrium is reached within a short amount
of time which compensates for the lower
yield.
What does Le Chatelier’s say?

INCREASE IN PRESSURE

 Reaction goes to fewer molecules

of gas being formed
 Equilibrium shifts in the direction
that reduces the pressure
What does Le Chatelier’s say?

DECREASE IN PRESSURE

 Reaction goes to more molecules

of gas being formed.
 Equilibrium shifts in the direction
that increases the pressure.
What does Le Chatelier’s say?

INCREASE IN TEMPERATURE
ENDOTHERMIC FAVOURED

 More reactants produced

 Equilibrium shifts to the left

What does Le Chatelier’s say?

DECREASE IN TEMPERATURE
EXOTHERMIC FAVOURED
 More products formed

 Equilibrium shifts to the right

What does Le Chatelier’s say?

INCREASE CONCENTRATION
REACTANTS
 More products formed

 Equilibrium shifts to the

right
What does Le Chatelier’s say?

DECREASE CONCENTRATION
REACTANTS
 More reactants formed
 Equilibrium shifts to the left
 How can we
produce more
ammonia
without
spending a lot?
Effect of changing pressure and temperature on the equilibrium
yield of ammonia
 PT Pupuk Kaltim Ammonia Plant
Produces more
They have 5 than 660,000
manufacturing tons/year per
units unit

Also produces
urea from
ammonia
What do we use NH3 for?
 HABER PROCESS

IMPORTANT USES OF AMMONIA AND ITS COMPOUNDS

MAKING
FERTILISERS 80% of the ammonia produced goes to make fertilisers such as
ammonium nitrate and ammonium sulphate

NH3 + HNO3 ——> NH4NO3

2NH3 + H2SO4 ——> (NH4)2SO4

MAKING
NITRIC ACID ammonia can be oxidised to nitric acid

nitric acid is used to manufacture... fertilisers (ammonium nitrate)

explosives (TNT)
polyamide polymers (NYLON)
 CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING
1. What is the contact process?

A method of producing sulfuric acid.

2. How many steps involved in the contact process?

1.Making sulfur dioxide (SO2(g))

2.Reacting SO2(g) with oxygen to form sulfur trioxide (SO3(g)).
3.Converting sulfur trioxide (SO3(g)) into sulfuric acid
However, we are only concentrating on the
reversible reaction (step 2) and the optimal
conditions that maximises yield
while reducing costs.

Making sulfur dioxide (SO2(g)) Reacting SO2(g) with oxygen Converting sulfur trioxide
to form sulfur trioxide (SO3(g)) (SO3(g)) into sulfuric acid
Converting sulfur dioxide to sulfur trioxide
2SO2(g) + O2(g) 2SO3(g) ΔH= -196 kJ/mol

Temperature: 400-450°C
Pressure: 1-2 atm
Heterogenous Catalyst: Vanadium(V) oxide (V2O5(s))

Note: Industrial processes rarely allow equilibrium to be reached as:

1. Products are removed as soon as they are formed
2. Reactants are recycled
3. Not a closed system
 Temperature ΔH= -196 kJ/mol

Although ΔH= -196 kJ/mol represents an exothermic reaction, the contact

process uses high temperatures between 400-450°C.
Why use such a high temperature? Doesn’t lowering the temperature favour
the exothermic reaction and maximise yield?
A major drawback of using lower temperatures is that the rate of reaction is
much slower.
Time is money in the manufacturer’s eyes. It would not be cost-effective to
wait a long time for a high yield.
A higher temperature reduces yield but equilibrium is
reached within a short amount of time which
compensates for the lower yield.
 Pressure: 1-2 atm

The forward reaction has fewer moles than the backward reaction.
Due to La Chatelier’s Principle, increasing the pressure would:
1. Increase the rate of reaction
2. Shift equilibrium to the right
3. Increase yield
Why do manufacturers choose to carry out this reaction at low pressures?
High energy costs for pumps to produce the pressure.
Equipment that can withstand high pressures are expensive.
It isn’t worth the expense to increase pressure for a very slight gain in yield.
Catalyst
Heterogenous Catalyst: Vanadium(V) oxide V2O5(s)

Unable to maximise yield as it has no effect on the position of

equilibrium and the values of Kc and Kp.

Increases the rate of attainment of equilibrium by increasing

the rate of both the forward and backward reaction.
V2O5
Allows a lower temperature to be used, hence, reducing energy
costs.