AMMONIA

OBJECTIVES

4.1 -- Outline the steps in the manufacture of ammonia from its eleme
nts, by the Haber process.
Include the production of the starting materials and manufacturing co
nditions. Apply the principles of chemical equilibrium and kinetics.

4.2 -- Discuss the uses of ammonia. In ag

riculture and chemical industry.

4.3. -- Assess the impact of the ammonia industry on the environm

ent.
REACTION RATE
Reaction Rate (Kinetic) Considerations

A catalyst such as an iron catalyst is used to speed up the reactio

n by lowering the activation energy so that the N2 bonds and H2
bonds can be more readily broken.
Increased temperature means more reactant molecules have suff
icient energy to overcome the energy barrier to reacting (activati
on energy) so the reaction is faster at higher temperatures (but t
he yield of ammonia is lower as discussed above).
A temperature range of 400-500oC is a compromise designed to a
chieve an acceptable yield of ammonia (10-20%) within an accept
able time period.
Refer to the graph on the right which records the yield of ammon
ia as a percentage at different pressures:
At 200oC and pressures above 750 atm there is an almost 100% c
onversion of reactants to the ammonia product.
Since there are difficulties associated with containing larger amounts of materials at this high
pressure, lower pressures of around 200 atm are used industrially.

By using a pressure of around 200 atm and a temperature of about 500oC, the yield of ammoni
a is 10-20%, while costs and safety concerns in the building and during operation of the plant a
re minimised

During industrial production of ammonia, the reaction never reaches equilibrium as the gas mi
xture leaving the reactor is cooled to liquefy and remove the ammonia.
The remaining mixture of reactant gases are recycled through the reactor.

The heat released by the reaction is removed and used to heat the incoming gas mixture.
 FERTILIZE
CLEANER
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STIMULA
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FERMENTATI
FUEL
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AMMONIA IN SOLVENTS
Liquid ammonia is a good solvent for organic molecules(esters amines be
nzene and alcohols)
Liquid ammonia dissolves alkali and other electropositive metals such as
calcium, magnesium, barium ect. to form highly colored, electrically c
onductive solutions containing solvated (free) electrons. These solutio
ns are very useful as reducing agents.
FERTILIZERS
88% Of ammonia is used as fertilizers either as its salts , solutions or an
hydrously.
Fertilizers help provide increased fields of crops.
Fun fact: 110 million tonnes of agricultural nitrogen is applied worldwide
each year in the form of anhydrous ammonia.
CLEANER
Household ammonia is a solution of NH3 in water used as a general purp
ose cleaner for many surfaces.
Ammonia is used to clean glass, porcelain, and stainless steel. It is also u
sed for cleaning ovens and soaking items to loosen baked on grime.
FERMENTATION
Solutions of ammonia ranging from 16%-25% is used in the fermentation
industry as a source of nitrogen for micro-organisms and to adjust PH
during fermantation.
PRESERVATIVE
Ammonia is strongly antiseptic. It is used to commercially reduce of elim
inate microbial contamination of meats such as beef.
REFRIGERANT
Ammonia is used as a refrigerant because of its vaporizing properties.
Anhydrous ammonia is widely used in industrial refrigeration application
s and hockey rinks because of its high energy efficiency.
FUEL
Ammonia is used in motor vehicles as fuels.This is a rare and occasional
use of ammonia yet it is practiced on a low scale.
Ammonia is proposed as an alternative to fossil fuels for internal combu
stion engines.
Ammonia is more energy efficient than hydrogen.
STIMULANT
Ammonia is used as vapor released in smelling salts.
It is used in the illegal manufacture of methamphetamine.
EFFECT OF AMMONIA ON THE ENVIRONMENT
Ammonia released into the air has an unpleasant odour, which is detecta
ble even at low concentrations.
At high concentrations this can also harm vegetation.
Ammonia released in water bodies is serious because it is toxic to aquati
c organisms.
Over fertilization results in leaching to water bodies.
On a large scale ammonia plays a role in transportation and deposition o
f acidic pollutants resulting in acidification of ground and water bodie
s which can harm plant and animal life.
Human exposure to ammonia at environmental concentrations is unlikely to
have adverse effects on health. But at extreme levels exposure could cau
se irritation of the eyes, nose and throat as well as burning skin if contact
is direct.
 END OF SLIDE
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