Air is approximately 78% nitogen, however the strong N_2 tiple bond (BE=941 kJ m

Question

Air is approximately 78% nitogen, however the strong N_2 tiple bond (BE=941 kJ mole^-2) makes it not readily available to biological organisms. As a result nitrogen "fixing" is necessary to make it bioavailable. In 1913 BASF began production of ammonia using the iron catalyzed Haber-Bosch process. This ammonia was vital to the German war effort, however the Haber-Bosch process has also had a tremendous humanitarian impact; today it provides 454 million tonnes of nitrogen fertilizer per year. Generally, the Haber-Bosch process affords ammonia by combining nitrogen from air and hydrogen derived from natural gas(i.e., methane).

Explanation / Answer

N2 + 3H2 - > 2NH3

Hreaction = SUM (BEreactants) - SUM (BEproducts)

             = 3* BDE(H2) + BDE(N2) - 6BDE (N-H)

            = 3*436 +941 - 6*389 = -85kJ/mol

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