The Ostwald process reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Apr-2004 (provided by Fixed Reference: snapshots of Wikipedia from wikipedia.org)

Ostwald process

The Ostwald process is a commercial process, invented by Wilhelm Ostwald, used to produce nitric acid. Following production from the Haber process, Ammonia is heated with a catalyst (platinum) to form nitric oxide that is then oxidized to yield nitrogen dioxide, which in turn reacts with water to yield nitric acid and nitric oxide:

4 NH₃ + 5 O₂ → 4 NO + 6 H₂O

2 NO + O₂ → 2 NO₂

4 NO₂ + O₂ + 2 H₂O → 4 HNO_3(aq)

Fixing Nitrogen into ammonia and nitric acid was a key development in the production of fertilisers and explosives. Previously sources of Nitrogen had been Guano and Chile saltpeter (NaNO3).

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