In the Haber process, what catalyst is used to synthesize ammonia from nitrogen and hydrogen?

In the Haber process, what catalyst is used to synthesize ammonia from nitrogen and hydrogen?

• A. Nickel
• B. Cobalt
• C. Iron
• D. Manganese

Answer: (C)

Iron serves as the catalyst in the Haber process because its surface can adequately dissociate nitrogen and hydrogen molecules and then allow the individual atoms to recombine into ammonia on the catalyst surface. The iron-based catalyst, often with promoters and a binder to maximize surface area, lowers the activation energy needed for N2 to split and for H2 to add to the nitrogen atoms, enabling a practical reaction rate under industrial conditions. The process uses high temperature and high pressure, and the iron catalyst remains active and stable under those conditions, balancing speed with a reasonable yield of ammonia. Other metals don’t provide the same combination of effective N2 dissociation and stability at the required conditions, which is why iron is the chosen catalyst.

Iron serves as the catalyst in the Haber process because its surface can adequately dissociate nitrogen and hydrogen molecules and then allow the individual atoms to recombine into ammonia on the catalyst surface. The iron-based catalyst, often with promoters and a binder to maximize surface area, lowers the activation energy needed for N2 to split and for H2 to add to the nitrogen atoms, enabling a practical reaction rate under industrial conditions. The process uses high temperature and high pressure, and the iron catalyst remains active and stable under those conditions, balancing speed with a reasonable yield of ammonia. Other metals don’t provide the same combination of effective N2 dissociation and stability at the required conditions, which is why iron is the chosen catalyst.