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Why isn't nitric acid produced by oxidizing N2as follows?

(1)N2(g)+2O2(g)→2NO2(g)(2)3NO2(g)+H2O(l)→2HNO3(aq)+NO(g)(3)2NO(g)+O2(g)→2NO2(g)3N2(g)+6O2(g)+2H2O(l)→4HNO3(aq)+2NO(g)

Short Answer

Expert verified

Reaction 1: represent non-spontaneous reactions at all temperatures, so use of catalyst is required.

Reaction 2: represent non-spontaneous reactions at all temperatures, so use of catalyst is required.

Reaction 3: the reaction of step (3) is spontaneous only at low temperatures

Step by step solution

01

Gibb’s Energy for reaction 1    

The thermodynamics of each step - i.e., Gibb's energy of each reaction step can be analyzed to solve the question.

  1. Reaction:

N2(g)+2O2(g)→2NO2(g)

Calculate the reaction's enthalpy and entropy using Appendixfor reaction (1).

role="math" localid="1663389271652" ∆Hrxn=∑∆HProducts-∑∆Hreactants∆Hrxn=2mol·ΔHNO2-1mol·ΔHN2+2mol·ΔHO2∆Hrxn=[2mol·33.20kJ/mol]-[1mol·0.00kJ/mol+2mol·0.00kJ/mol]∆Hrxn=66.40kJ∆srxn=∑sProducts-∑smol=∆SNS2]-1mol·∆SN2+2mol·∆SO2∆srxn=2mol·239.90Jmol·K-1mol·191.50Jmol·K+2mol·205.00mmol·K

∆srxn=-121.70JK=-0.1217kJK

The reaction 1 is nonspontaneous at all temperatures because it is endothermic (∆H>0) and the overall entropy of the reaction drops. As Gibb's energy is positive, no spontaneous reaction occurs.

∆G25=66.40kJ-(25+273)K·-0.1217kJK∆G25=102.67kJ

Hence, it represents non-spontaneous reactions at all temperatures, so use of catalyst

02

Gibb’s Energy for reaction 2

2 Reaction

3NO2(g)+2H2O(l)→2HNO3(aq)+NO(g)

Calculate the reaction's enthalpy and entropy using Appendix B for reaction (2).

∆Hrxn=2mol·ΔHHNO3+1mol·ΔH(NO)-3mol·ΔHNO2+2mol·ΔHH2O

∆Hrxn=[2mol·-206.57kJ/mol+1mol·90.29kJ/mol]-[3mol·33.20kJ/mol+2mol·-285.83kJ/mol]∆Hrxn=149.21kJ∆srxn=2mol·ΔSHNO3+1mol·ΔS(NO)-3mol·ΔSNO2+2mol·ΔSH2O

∆srxn=2mol·146.00Jmol·K+1mol·210.65Jmol·K-3mol·239.90Jmol·K+2mol·69.95Jmol·K

∆srxn=-356.95JK=-0.35695kJK

The reaction 2 is nonspontaneous at all temperatures because it is endothermicDeltaH>0and the overall entropy of the reaction drops. For example, Gibb's energy is positive at25°C,indicating that the reaction is not spontaneous.

localid="1663390646989" ∆G25=149.21kJ-(25+273)K×-0.35695kJK∆G25=255.581kJ

Therefore, it represents non-spontaneous reactions at all temperatures, so use of catalyst is required.

03

Gibb’s Energy for reaction 3

  1. Reaction

2NO(g)+O2(g)→2NO2(g)

Calculate the reaction's enthalpy and entropy using Appendix B for reaction (2).

∆Hrxn=2mol·ΔHNO2-2mol·ΔH(NO)+1mol·ΔHO2∆Hrxn=[2mol·33.20kJ/mol]-[2mol·90.29kJ/mol+1mol·0.00kJ/mol]∆Srxn=2mol·∆SNHrxn=-114.18kJ-2mol·∆S(mO)+1mol·∆SO2∆Srxn=2mol·239.90Jmol·K-2mol·210.65Jmol·K+1mol·205.00Jmol·KΔ³§rxn=-146.50JK=-0.1465kJK

At low temperatures, the reaction 3 is spontaneous because it is exothermicDeltaH>0and the overall entropy of the process reduces. For instance, for $25°C,, Because Gibb's energy is positive, the reaction occurs naturally.

∆G25=-114.18kJ-(25+273)K·-0.1465kJK

∆G25=-70.523kJ

∆G25=-70.523kJ

width="145">∆G25=-70.523kJ

As a result, the reaction of step (3) is spontaneous only at low temperatures.

04

Overview of the reactions

As a result, the entire reaction is implausible, because the first two reactions are not spontaneous and only the third is.

In the industrial scale, preheated air is mixed with ammonia gas and acatalyst is employed to produce nitric oxide, which is then oxidized and, in the presence of water, nitric acid is formed.

At all temperatures, the reaction steps (1) and (2) indicate non-spontaneous reactions, necessitating the employment of a catalyst. On the other hand, Step (3), is only spontaneous at low temperatures.As a result, the entire reaction is implausible

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