Combustion of ammonia to produce nitrogen dioxide - Ostwald process

Principle

In the presence of a suitable catalyst and while giving off heat, ammonia-air mixtures burn and form nitrogen monoxide and water. Nitrogen monoxide reacts immediately with the excess oxygen, thereby forming nitrogen dioxide.

At higher temperatures, nitrogen monoxide is decomposed into nitrogen and oxygen. This is why the contact with the catalyst must be very brief. In the presence of water and oxygen, nitrogen dioxide forms nitric acid. On a large industrial scale, the combustion of ammonia with atmospheric oxygen is performed under contact with platinum (Ostwald process). The resulting nitric acid is used for the production of fertilisers and numerous other chemical products.

Benefits

• Introduction to the Ostwald process
• Practical water jet pump for easy generation of the required negative pressure
• Stable and safe setup due to solid stand material

Tasks

Burn an ammonia-air mixture in the presence of a catalyst (platinum-palladium-aluminium-oxide beads) and prove the resulting nitrogen oxide.

What you can learn about

• Ostwald process
• Ammonia
• Nitrogen dioxide
• Nitrogen monoxide
• Nitric acid