Ammonia is synthesized industrially by the reaction For the reaction as written,

CHEMISTRY · Multi-part · A Level · Chemistry · Energetics · Energetics

Problem

Ammonia is synthesized industrially by the reaction

\text{N}_2(g) + 3\,\text{H}_2(g) \longrightarrow 2\,\text{NH}_3(g)

For the reaction as written,

\Delta H = -92.4\;\text{kJ\,mol}^{-1}

. In a continuous-flow reactor operating at constant pressure, dinitrogen enters at a rate of

4.0\;\text{mol\,s}^{-1}

. Under steady-state conditions,

85\%

of the entering dinitrogen is converted to ammonia. (a) Calculate the number of moles of dinitrogen that react per minute. (b) Determine the rate, in

\text{kJ\,min}^{-1}

, at which heat is released by the reactor under the stated operating conditions. (c) The plant manager considers running the process in reverse to decompose ammonia at the same rate of conversion calculated in part (a). Calculate the heat that must be supplied per minute to maintain the reverse reaction, and state the sign of that heat quantity.

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