In any engineering design problem, the first step is to understand the problem and identify one or more possible solutions. In this task, you'll analyze the problems you face as the chemical engineer challenged with setting up the ammonia-making process. Recall the chemical equation for producing ammonia:

N2 + 3H2 ⇌ 2NH3 + energy

How can you change the chemical equilibrium to benefit the company? What benefits will be realized?

rising pressure and decreasing temperature

Explanation:

Reversible reactions have a bit practical interest, but in some cases the technological benefit or profitability of production requires a shift in the equilibrium of a reversible reaction.

Increasing pressure

With increasing pressure on this system, the concentration of substances increases. In this case, the balance will shift towards smaller volumes. On the left side of the equation, two volumes of nitrogen react with one volume of hydrogen. On the right side of the equation there are two volumes of ammonia, i. e. the number of volumes on the right side of the equilibrium reaction is less than on the left and, therefore, with increasing pressure, the reaction equilibrium will shift to the right.

Decreasing temperature

When the temperature rises, the equilibrium shifts towards the endothermic reaction, and when the temperature decreases, towards the exothermic reaction and the reaction given above is the exothermic.