Basic studies on physical chemistry of ammonia synthesis reaction

1 Basic studies on physical chemistry of ammonia synthesis reaction 

The reaction for the formation of ammonia from nitrogen and hydrogen is, 

This is an exothermic and volume reduction reaction. The higher pressure, the lower temperature, the higher concentration of ammonia can be achieved under equilibrium conditions. However, no detailed studies were carried out at that time. 

Haber et al. obtained the equilibrium concentration of ammonia on pure iron catalyst at 1,000°C and 101 kPa (Fig. 1.2). They obtained 0.012% ammonia at 1,020°C and 101 kPa. This result indicated that ammonia could be synthesized even at pressure of 101 kPa. 

Haber et al. also carried out their experiments in detail again, and found that their previous results were not correct. Then, they carried out the same high-pressure experiments as Nernst et al. did and obtained almost the same result. 

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