Haber process

The Haber Process (also Haber-Bosch process) is the reaction of nitrogen and hydrogen to produce ammonia.

Related Topics:
Nitrogen - Hydrogen - Ammonia

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The nitrogen and hydrogen are reacted over an iron catalyst under conditions of 200 atmospheres, 450°C:

Related Topics:
Iron - Catalyst

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:N2(g) + 3H2(g) ↔ 2NH3(g) + ΔH ...(1)

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The process was developed by Fritz Haber and Carl Bosch in 1909 and patented in 1910. It was first used on an industrial scale by the Germans during World War I: Germany had previously imported saltpeter from Chile, but the demand for munitions and the uncertainty of this supply in the war prompted the adoption of the process. The ammonia produced was oxidised for the production of nitric acid in the Ostwald process, and the nitric acid for the production of various explosive nitro compounds used in munitions.

Related Topics:
Fritz Haber - Carl Bosch - 1909 - 1910 - World War I - Saltpeter - Chile - Nitric acid - Ostwald process

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The nitrogen is obtained from the air, and the hydrogen is obtained from water and natural gas in steam reforming:

Related Topics:
Natural gas - Steam reforming

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:CH4(g) + H2O(g) → CO(g) + 3H2(g) ...(2)

Related Topics:
C - O

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