Why 1 part by volume of air and 8 part by volume are taken in converter to convert ammonia into nitric oxide in the first step for the manufacturing of nitiric acid by Ostwald process?? Thank you.

1 Answer
anor277
Oct 1, 2017

Is not the first step the oxidation of ammonia....?

Explanation:

#4NH_3(g) +5 O_2 (g) rarr 4NO(g) + 6H_2O(g) +Delta#

Now this reaction is fiercely exothermic, so I imagine that oxygen concentration is REDUCED so as to control the exotherm. At any rate, I think you will have to refine the question, as I am unclear what I am answering.

I know that sometimes, ammonia can be reduced back to dinitrogen....

#4NH_3 + 6NO(g) rarr 5N_2 + 6 H_2O#

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