Nitrogen reacts with hydrogen to form ammonia

N₂(g) + 3 H₂(g) $\rightarrow$ 2 NH₃(g)
Which burns in the presence of oxygen to form nitrogen oxide,

4 NH₃(g) + 5 O₂(g) $\rightarrow$ 4 NO(g) + 6 H₂O(g)
Which reacts with excess oxygen to form nitrogen dioxide.
2 NO(g) + O₂(g) $\rightarrow$ 2 NO₂(g)
How many moles of nitrogen would we have to start with to make 10 moles of nitrogen dioxide?

Question

Nitrogen reacts with hydrogen to form ammonia

N₂(g) + 3 H₂(g)

\rightarrow

2 NH₃(g)
Which burns in the presence of oxygen to form nitrogen oxide,

4 NH₃(g) + 5 O₂(g)

\rightarrow

4 NO(g) + 6 H₂O(g)
Which reacts with excess oxygen to form nitrogen dioxide.
2 NO(g) + O₂(g)

\rightarrow

2 NO₂(g)
How many moles of nitrogen would we have to start with to make 10 moles of nitrogen dioxide?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

To produce 10 moles of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), you need 5 moles of NO, because the reaction between NO and O2 produces NO2 on a 1:1 mole ratio. To get 5 moles of NO, you need 5 moles of NH3 (since 4 moles of NH3 produce 4 moles of NO). Finally, to produce 5 moles of NH3, you need 5/2 = 2.5 moles of N2, because the reaction between N2 and H2 produces NH3 on a 1:2 mole ratio. However, since the question asks for the amount of nitrogen (N2) needed to produce 10 moles of NO2, and considering the entire process, we see that each mole of N2 eventually leads to 2 moles of NO2. Therefore, to get 10 moles of NO2, you actually need 5 moles of N2.

Nitrogen Reacts with Hydrogen to Form Ammonia N2(g) →\rightarrow→ 2 NH3(g) Which Burns in the Presence of Oxygen to 3

Nitrogen Reacts with Hydrogen to Form Ammonia

N₂(g) $\rightarrow$ 2 NH₃(g)
Which Burns in the Presence of Oxygen to 3