Haber process

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Haber process Industrial process for converting atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia. A mixture of nitrogen and hydrogen is passed over a heated catalyst at a pressure of c.1000 atmospheres. The chemical reaction N2+3H2Æ2NH3 occurs. By ‘fixing’ atmospheric nitrogen, it is possible to convert ammonia to nitric acid, and thus produce the nitrates that are used in the manufacture of fertilizers and explosives. It was invented (1908–09) by German chemists Fritz Haber and Carl Bosch. See also nitrogen fixation

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Haber process

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