Question

Question #1b175

Answer 1

One way is to use the Ostwald process used in industry of nitric acid manufacturing.

Explanation:

First, you would need to oxidize ammonia (`NH_3`). This process is exothermic and is also reversible. This can be modeled by the following equation

`4NH_3+5O_2⇌4NO+6H_2O`

This gives you nitric oxide gas (`NO`), which comes out very hot, so it would be a good idea to cool it down, to about `150` degrees celsius. After further cooling, it gets oxidized to nitrogen dioxide (`NO_2`).

`2NO+O_2⇌2NO_2`

After that, water is poured over the nitrogen dioxide gas and nitric acid is obtained.

`3NO_2+H_2O->2HNO_3+NO`, where nitric acid is `HNO_3`.