In the Haber reaction, patented by German chemist Fritz Haber in 1908, dinitroge
ID: 988690 • Letter: I
Question
In the Haber reaction, patented by German chemist Fritz Haber in 1908, dinitrogen gas combines with dihydrogen gas to produce gaseous ammonia. This reaction is now the first step taken to make most of the world's fertilizer. Suppose a chemical engineer studying a new catalyst for the Haber reaction finds that 689, liters per second of dinitrogen are consumed when the reaction is run at 263. degree C and 0.55 atm. Calculate the rate at which ammonia is being produced. Give your answer in kilograms per second. Round your answer to 2 significant digits.Explanation / Answer
N2 + 3 H2 -------------------------> 2 NH3
rate = -d [N2] /dt = -1/3 d [H2] /dt = + 1/2 d [NH3] /dt
-d [N2] /dt = 689 Lit /sec
-d [N2] /dt = + 1/2 d [NH3] /dt
d [NH3] /dt = 2 x -d [N2] /dt
= 2 x 689 Lit / sec
= 1378 Lit / sec
T = 263 + 273 = 536 K
P = 0.55 atm
NH3 molar mass = 17 g /mol
P V = nR T = w R T / M
V = w R T / M P
1378 = w x 0.0821 x 536 / 17 x 0.55
1378 = w x 0.0821 x 536 / 17 x 0.55
w = 292.7 g
w = 0.293 kg
d [NH3] /dt = = 1378 Lit / sec
d [NH3] /dt = 0.293 kg / sec