Final answer:
The Haber-Bosch Process is an industrial method for producing ammonia from nitrogen and hydrogen gases, using high temperatures and pressures with a catalyst. Invented by Fritz Haber, this process greatly enhanced the availability of nitrogen fertilizers, shifting agricultural reliance from naturally sourced to synthetically produced nitrates.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Haber-Bosch Process is a significant chemical procedure developed in the early 20th century for synthesizing ammonia. This process involves a reaction between nitrogen (N₂) and hydrogen (H₂), typically represented by the chemical equation N₂(g) + 3 H₂(g) = 2 NH₃(g), to produce ammonia (NH₃). The reaction occurs under specific conditions of high temperature and pressure, in the presence of a catalyst.
Fritz Haber, who was later awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work, pioneered this method at the University of Karlsruhe. By enabling the mass production of ammonia, the Haber-Bosch process revolutionized agricultural practices by providing an ample supply of nitrogen fertilizers, which were previously dependent on limited natural resources like sodium nitrate.
The industrial setup for this process stresses the chemical equilibrium to favor product formation. This balance is managed by controlling various conditions, such as temperature, pressure, and catalysts, which are illustrated in the provided figure 13.9 depicting a typical setup for the commercial production of ammonia.