The Haber Process

Starter 20/05/2025

Task 1 Task 2
How many electrons does Why do sodium ions and
silicon have? chlorine ions form an ionic
bond?

Task 3 Task 4
What is the formula for a mean Explain why increasing the
rate of reaction in terms of surface area increases the rate
reactants? of a reaction
 The Haber Process
Starter – Red Pen 20/05/2025

14 (same
Task 1 as atomic number!) There is
Task 2 an electrostatic force
How many electrons does of attraction
Why between
do sodium ions and
silicon have? oppositely
chlorine charged
ions form anions.
ionic
Sodium is a metal and chlorine
bond?
is a non-metal, so they form
positive and negative ions
quantity respectively.
More particles are available to
Task 3 of reactant used ÷ Task 4
time taken
What is the formula for a mean collide, there
Explain are therefore
why increasing the
rate of reaction in terms of more frequent
surface collisionsthe rate
area increases
reactants? between
of reactants.
a reaction
 The Haber Process
Learning Objectives 20/05/2025

TBAT state the reagents and

Meet It
conditions needed in the
Haber process
TBAT explain the effect of
Beat It
changing conditions on the PoE of
the Haber process
TBAT discuss the reasons for the
Smash It! compromise conditions used in the
Haber process
Mr Peter
 The Haber Process
Ammonia 20/05/2025
The production of ammonia is a significant factor in the
development of most nations.
1. Fertilisers provide increased agricultural production of
food. (undeveloped nations have more of the
population growing food to survive).
2. Textiles and other mass-produced products.
3. Explosives for mining and military.
4. Ammonia as a feedstock to the chemical industry
including pharmaceuticals
 The Haber Process
Ammonia 20/05/2025
What are the uses of ammonia?
Millions of tonnes per year
Fibres ; Other; 5%
Ex- 10%
plo-
sives ;

NH3
5%

Fertilisers
; 80%
 The Haber Process
Task 2: Balance this equation 20/05/2025

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

Draw the bonding in any of the above

molecules: H N H
N N H H
H

x 
x   
x

N x N 
 H x H H x N xH
 x
x
H
 The Haber Process
Applied Science 20/05/2025

N2 (g) + 3 H2 (g) ⇌ 2 NH3 (g)

If you were going to make ammonia for a profit – what
two things matter most if you are going to maximise
efficiency in your factory?
1. Rate of reaction (how
quickly can I make
the ammonia)

2. Yield (how much of

the hydrogen and
nitrogen can I convert
into ammonia)
 The Haber Process
Increasing the rate of the reaction 20/05/2025

Increase temperature…
• Reactants have more
energy
• More collisions with
activation energy
• More collisions per second
Increase concentration or
pressure…
• More reactant particles per
Add a catalyst…
unit volume • Alternate pathway
• More collisions per second
• Lowers activation
How will each of these conditions The Haber Process
20/05/2025
affect the position of equilibrium?
Effect of high concentration of
reactants
N2 (g) + 3 H2 (g) ⇌ 2 NH3 (g)

If the concentration of
reactants is increased,
forward reaction will be
favoured and the
equilibrium will shift to
the right to reduce the
amount of reactants.
How will each of these conditions The Haber Process
20/05/2025
affect the position of equilibrium?
Effect of adding a catalyst

N2 (g) + 3 H2 (g) ⇌ 2 NH3 (g)

Catalysts speed up forward

and reverse reaction equally No catalyst
but also lower activation
energy and therefore energy
demand

Catalyst
How will each of these conditions The Haber Process
20/05/2025
affect the position of equilibrium?
Effect of increasing the pressure N H
N H
N2 (g) + 3 H2 (g) ⇌ 2 NH3 (g) H
H H H
If the pressure is increased
the forward reaction will be Reactants
favoured and the
equilibrium will shift right as H H H
there are fewer moles of
Are there any N
N
products. H H H
issues with high
pressure? Products
 The Haber Process
Compromise #1 20/05/2025

200
atmospheres
pressure used
How will each of these conditions The Haber Process
20/05/2025
affect the position of equilibrium?
Effect of increasing the
temperature
Exothermic
N2 (g) + 3 H2 (g) ⇌ 2 NH3 (g)
Endothermic
If the temperature is
increased the reverse
reaction will be favoured as
its endothermic and the
equilibrium will shift left in
order to absorb heat and
 The Haber Process
Compromise #2 Exothermic 20/05/2025
Effect of increasing the
temperature N2 (g) + 3 H2 (g) ⇌ 2 NH3 (g)
Endothermic
Low Temperature is
temperature also a factor of
= higher yield rate. In the Haber
= slow rate process, it is
High considered more
temperature important to
= low yield have a fast rate
= fast rate of reaction, so
450oC relatively high
temperatures are
used
 The Haber Process
In Summary: 20/05/2025
 The Haber Process
MWB Check-in 20/05/2025

State the three conditions used in the Haber

process

1. 450°C
2. 200 atmospheres
3. Iron catalyst
 The Haber Process
MWB Check-in 20/05/2025

Which of these is true about a dynamic

equilibrium?

A. All the product molecules are used up.

B. All the reactants molecules are used up.
C. The reaction has stopped both in the
forward and backward directions.
D. The composition of the reaction mixture
remains the same.
 The Haber Process
MWB Check-in 20/05/2025

The equation for the Haber process is:

N2 + 3 H2 ⇌ 2 NH3
What gases will be present at equilibrium?

A. Nitrogen and hydrogen

B. Nitrogen, hydrogen and ammonia
C. Ammonia only
 The Haber Process
MWB Check-in 20/05/2025
Sulfur dioxide reacts with oxygen to make
sulfur trioxide in a reversible reaction:

2SO2(s) + O2(g) ⇌ 2SO3(g)

Predict the effect of increasing the pressure.

The equilibrium position will move
to the right, in the direction of
the fewest moles of gas.
 The Haber Process
MWB Check-in 20/05/2025

Which of these is true about a dynamic

equilibrium?

A. All the product molecules are used up.

B. All the reactants molecules are used up.
C. The reaction has stopped both in the
forward and backward directions.
D. The composition of the reaction mixture
remains the same.
 The Haber Process
MWB Check-in 20/05/2025

Which of these is a reversible process?

A. Reacting acid with alkali.

B. Heating hydrated (blue) copper sulphate.
C. Burning coal.
D. Dissolving magnesium in acid.
 The Haber Process
MWB Check-in 20/05/2025
Hydrogen can be manufactured by reacting
carbon with steam:
C(s) + H2O(g) ⇌ H2 (g) + CO(g) (forward reaction
is endothermic)
Predict the effect of increasing the
temperature.
The equilibrium position will move
to the right, in the direction of the
endothermic reaction.
 The Haber Process
MWB Check-in 20/05/2025

Which of these is true about the effect of

pressure on the reaction below?
2NO2(g) 
A. N2O4gives
Increased pressure (g) more N2O4.
B. Increased pressure does not affect the
equilibrium.
C. Increased pressure makes N2O4
decompose.
 The Haber Process
MWB Check-in 20/05/2025

Which of these is true about the effect of

increased temperature on the reaction?

2NO2(g)  N2O4 (g) H=-

58kJ/mol
A. Gives more N2O4.
B. Does not affect the equilibrium.
C. Slows down the reactions.
D. Achieves equilibrium more quickly.
 The Haber Process
MWB Check-in 20/05/2025

Which of these is NOT true about the Haber

Process?
3 H2 (g) + N2 (g)  2 NH3 (g)
H=-92kJ/mol
A. An iron catalyst is used.
B. Heat is used to increase the ammonia
present in the equilibrium mixture.
C. High pressure is used to increase the
ammonia present in the equilibrium
mixture.
 The Haber Process
MWB Check-in 20/05/2025
Iron(III) ions react with thiocyanate ions,
SCN-, in a reversible reaction:

Fe3+(aq) + SCN-(aq) ⇌ FeSCN2+(aq)

Predict the effect of adding more iron(III) ions.

The equilibrium position will move
to the right, in the direction
away from Fe3+ in the equation.
 The Haber Process
Practice 20/05/2025

Make sure you have

completed today’s
handout and your
exercise books are
neat and tidy!
 The Haber Process
Answers – Red Pen 20/05/2025
 The Haber Process
Lesson Outcomes 20/05/2025

TBAT state the reagents and

Meet It
conditions needed in the
Haber process
TBAT explain the effect of
Beat It
changing conditions on the PoE of
the Haber process
TBAT discuss the reasons for the
Smash It! compromise conditions used in the
Haber process