Write a detailed note on Ammonia Solvay’s process.
Answers
Answer:
The key reaction in Solvay synthesis is,
NaCl+NH3+Co2+H2O→NaHCO3(s)+NH4Cl
in which a sodium chloride solution (brine) is saturated with ammonia gas (NH3), then with carbon dioxide, and finally cooled. This is a precipitation reaction in which solid sodium bicarbonate, NaHCO3, comes out of solution. When heated, the solid NaHCO3 yields solid sodium carbonate, Na2CO3, water vapor, and carbon dioxide gas:
2NaHCO3+heat→Na2CO3+H2O(g)+CO2(g)
The raw materials for the Solvay process are cheap. The NaCl solution can be pumped from the ground from brine deposits in some locations, or fresh water can be pumped into a salt formation to dissolve NaCl and the resulting brine pumped to the surface. The most expensive raw material is ammonia, which is made by the reaction of elemental hydrogen and nitrogen over an iron-based catalyst,
3H2+N2→2NH3