Chemistry – Inorganic chemistry | e-Consult

The industrial preparation of ammonia involves the reaction of nitrogen and hydrogen gas at high temperature and pressure. Specifically, the reaction occurs at approximately 400-500 °C and pressures of 150-250 atmospheres. A catalyst, typically iron promoted with potassium oxide and aluminium oxide, is essential for the reaction to proceed at a reasonable rate.

Without a catalyst, the reaction is very slow due to the high activation energy. The catalyst provides an alternative reaction pathway with a lower activation energy, facilitating the formation of ammonia. The catalyst does not affect the equilibrium position of the reaction; it only speeds up the rate at which equilibrium is reached.

The balanced chemical equation for the reaction is: