WhatsApp Us
Home › TYS Solutions › O Level Chem › 2022 › P1 Q24

2022 O Level Chem P1 Q24 — Industrial Chemistry / Haber Process Solution

Industrial Chemistry / Haber Process 2022 O Level Pure Chemistry · Paper 1 · Q24

Question

What is the source of hydrogen in the industrial production of ammonia?
  1. Acracking of hydrocarbons
  2. Belectrolysis of aqueous sodium hydroxide
  3. Cextraction from the air
  4. Dreaction of a Group I metal with water
Correct answer: A

Video Solution

Explanation

Answer: A. Industrial hydrogen for ammonia synthesis is produced by steam reforming of hydrocarbons — usually natural gas (methane): \(\text{CH}_4 + \text{H}_2\text{O} \rightarrow \text{CO} + 3\text{H}_2\). This is a form of cracking and is the dominant source of industrial \(\text{H}_2\) worldwide.

B (electrolysis of NaOH) is technically possible but uses far more electricity per kilogram of \(\text{H}_2\) than steam reforming — not the standard industrial source.

C (extraction from air) is wrong: dry air contains essentially no free hydrogen; what's there is trace.

D (Group I metal + water) gives \(\text{H}_2\) but Group I metals themselves are extracted by electrolysis of their molten salts — net energy cost is enormous and the reaction is dangerous. Industrially impractical.

Cracking of hydrocarbons is the answer: A.

Get the Sec 3 / Sec 4 recording package

Every O Level Pure Chemistry TYS MCQ solution video, plus full Sec 3 / Sec 4 topic recordings.

Find out more