The Haber process makes ammonia (NH₃) from nitrogen and hydrogen:
N₂ + 3H₂ ⇌ 2NH₃ (forward reaction is exothermic)
The double arrow (⇌) shows the reaction is reversible — ammonia can decompose back into nitrogen and hydrogen.
Where do the raw materials come from?
- Nitrogen — obtained from the air (78% of the atmosphere is N₂, separated by fractional distillation of liquid air)
- Hydrogen — obtained from natural gas (methane + steam in a reaction called steam reforming): CH₄ + H₂O → CO + 3H₂
This deep dive covers The Equation and Raw Materials within The Haber Process & Fertilisers for GCSE Chemistry. Revise The Haber Process & Fertilisers in Rates of Reaction for GCSE Chemistry with 6 exam-style questions and 6 flashcards. This is a high-frequency topic, so it is worth revising until the explanation feels precise and repeatable. It is section 3 of 13 in this topic. Use this deep dive to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
Practice questions for The Haber Process & Fertilisers
In the Haber process, where is the nitrogen obtained from?
State the equation for the Haber process and give the conditions used. Include the catalyst.