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Industrial Applications of Chemical Equilibrium

The document discusses the industrial synthesis of ammonia through Haber’s Process, emphasizing the application of chemical equilibrium principles to maximize yield. Key strategies include decreasing ammonia concentration, increasing pressure, and optimizing temperature, with ideal conditions being 400-450°C and 200-300 atm pressure. The use of a catalyst, such as iron with promoters, enhances reaction rate without affecting equilibrium.

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Rana Hassan Tariq
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18 views5 pages

Industrial Applications of Chemical Equilibrium

The document discusses the industrial synthesis of ammonia through Haber’s Process, emphasizing the application of chemical equilibrium principles to maximize yield. Key strategies include decreasing ammonia concentration, increasing pressure, and optimizing temperature, with ideal conditions being 400-450°C and 200-300 atm pressure. The use of a catalyst, such as iron with promoters, enhances reaction rate without affecting equilibrium.

Uploaded by

Rana Hassan Tariq
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Industrial Applications of

Chemical Equilibrium
8.16.1 Synthesis of Ammonia (Haber’s Process)
This is one of the most important industrial processes
used to produce ammonia (NH₃) on a large scale.
It applies the principle of equilibrium to obtain
maximum yield of ammonia.
Reaction

This is a
reversible and exothermic reaction (heat is released).
Ways to Get Maximum Yield of Ammonia
1. Decrease the concentration of ammonia

o Remove ammonia from the reaction vessel


continuously.

o This shifts equilibrium forward (towards more


ammonia) according to Le-Chatelier’s principle.

2. Increase pressure

o There are fewer gas molecules on the product


side (2 moles) than on the reactant side (4 moles).

o So, high pressure shifts equilibrium forward,


producing more ammonia.

3. Decrease temperature

o The reaction is exothermic, so lowering


temperature favors the forward reaction.

o But too low a temperature slows down the rate — a


moderate temperature is better.
Effect of Temperature on ( K_c )
Temperature (K) Kc

200 7.15 × 10⁸

300 2.69 × 10⁴

400 1.64 × 10⁻¹

500 1.72 × 10⁻²

600 4.53 × 10⁻³

700 2.49 × 10⁻³

800 3.96 × 10⁻²

Observation:
As temperature increases, Kc decreases, meaning less
ammonia is formed at high temperature.
Effect of Temperature and Pressure on Yield
• At low temperature, yield is high, but the rate of
reaction is slow.
• At very high temperature, yield is low (due to
equilibrium shift backward).
• So, a moderate temperature (~400°C) and high
pressure (200–300 atm) give the best balance
between yield and speed.
Industrial Conditions
Condition Value
Temperature 400–450°C
Pressure 200–300 atm
Iron (Fe) with promoters like Al₂O₃, SiO₂, and
Catalyst
K₂O
At these conditions, about 15% of ammonia is produced
in one pass, but unreacted gases are recycled, giving a
total conversion of about 98%.
Why Not Use Lower Temperature?
At 200°C, yield is high but reaction is too slow.
Therefore, industries use moderate temperature (≈400°C)
and a catalyst to increase rate without reducing yield too
much.
Optimum Conditions for Best Yield of Ammonia
a) Pressure: 200–300 atm
b) Temperature: 400–450°C
c) Catalyst: Iron (Fe) with MgO, Al₂O₃, and SiO₂ as
promoters
Summary
Factor Change Effect on Yield
Temperature ↓ Forward reaction ↑ Yield
favored
Pressure ↑ Forward reaction ↑ Yield
favored
Ammonia Shifts equilibrium ↑ Yield
removal forward
Catalyst Increases rate only No effect on
equilibrium

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