An Introduction to Thermal Physics · Problem 5.84

Free Energy and Chemical Thermodynamics — Daniel Schroeder

Physics — Statistical Mechanics · nitrogen-fixation-equilibrium

Problem

A mixture of one part nitrogen and three parts hydrogen is heated, in the presence of a suitable catalyst, to a temperature of 500∘500^\circC. What fraction of the nitrogen (atom for atom) is converted to ammonia, if the final total pressure is 400 atm? Pretend for simplicity that the gases behave ideally despite the very high pressure. The equilibrium constant at 500∘500^\circC is 6.9×10−56.9 \times 10^{-5}. (Hint: You'll have to solve a quadratic equation.)

Related theory

Browse the problem library