What is the Haber-Bosch process?

Originally used for the production of high explosives , ammonia is now used mostly as fertilizers which help feed the world


Before i can tell you how the Haber Bosch process feeds the world , Let me explain what is the Haber Bosch process.
This process which won 2 scientist nobel prizes in 1918 and 1932 . Also known as the Haber process , the Haber-Bosch process is used for the manufacturing of ammonia.

N₂ (g)+ 3 H₂  (g) ⇌ 2 NH₃ (g)
The reactants are nitrogen and hydrogen.

-Hydrogen( H2) is obtained from reacting natural gas (usually methane) with steam or cracking hydrocarbons
Methane + Steam (water) -> Carbon dioxide and Hydrogen

-Nitrogen ( N2) is obtained from air as air is nearly 80% nitrogen and 20% oxygen. The oxygen is removed by burning hydrogen 
Hydrogen + Oxygen -> Water


The Product is ammonia (NH₃ )
 
 Brief diagram of the Haber-Bosch process - http://newsletter.flatworldknowledge.com/bookhub/reader/4309?e=averill_1.0-ch15_s06


Relation with equilibrium
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This reaction is a reversible reaction and unreacted reactants are re-used hence we show this with the equilibrium sign ⇌

So how does it help feed the world?

As i have previously stated , the Haber-bosch process is the manufacturing of ammonia.
There are three main types of fertilizer - Nitrogen , Potassium and Ammonia fertilizers .

As we farm the natural nutrients in the soil begin to decrease over time , it is with fertilizers that we are able to maintain the nutrients level in the soil for higher yield which would lead to lower food prices which in turn help feed the world .

Ammonia is important as it is the primary ingredient in fertilizers of which without modern agriculture high yields would not be made possible .

Before the amazing Haber process ammonia were available in limited quantities and could not be used to sustain the worlds growing population , thanks to the brilliant scientists Fitz Haber and Carl Bosch there would not be any way to produce ammonia in such larger quantities to be used as fertilizers
 




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Graphs -http://chemistry.need.org/curriculum/fertilizer

Disadvantages of Synthetic fertilisers

You would think that synthetic fertilizers such as ammonia fertilizers obtained from the Haber-Bosch process is all good news , however there is a downside for using them.

- This is a high energy process and takes up about 1-2% of the worlds energy supply every year

 - Fertilisers seep into rivers which causes algae boom. In turn bacteria feed on the dead algae using up oxygen in the water killing aquatic animals.

-This may enter our water supply which then cause health issues.

However , the pros of the Haber-bosch process clearly outweighs the cons of this process as it helps feeds the world by helping to increase the yield of crops