Calculate the equilibrium pressure for N2, H2
and NH3 for the Haber process at 400oC
if one starts with 10.0 atm each of N2 and H2 in
a closed volume.
The equilibrium equation is: N2 + 3H2 ⇌ 2NH3
The equilibrium constant at 400oC = 2.0 x 10-4
Assume x atms of reaction occures to come to equilibrium. This
means, x atm of N2
is consumed, 3x atm of H2 is consumed and 2x of NH3
is produced. OR:
P(N2) | P(H2) | P(NH3) | |
initially | 10.0 | 10.0 | 0.0 |
equilibrium | 10.0 - x | 10.0 - 3x | 0.0 + 2x |
The equilibrium equation is:
Substituting in:
Assume x << 10.0. If this works, then the answer will show
that x << 10.0.
P(N2) | P(H2) | x | P(NH3) | |
1st Approximation | 10.0 | 10.0 | 0.71 | 1.41 |
Note that x << 10.0 and the approximation works. One can
continue by using the
approximation that: 10.0 - x = 10.0 - 0.7 and 10.0 - 3x = 10.0
- 2.2. This gives
the 2nd approximation.
2nd Approx | 9.29 | 7.88 | 0.48 | .95 |
3rd Approx | 9.52 | 8.57 | 0.55 | 1.09 |
4th Approx | 9.45 | 8.36 | 0.53 | 1.05 |
5th Approx | 9.47 | 8.42 | 0 .53 | 1.06 |
6th Approx | 9.47 | 8.40 | 0 .53 | 1.06 |