Nitrogen, N2 exist as a diatomic molecule that is bonded by a triple bond. Nitrogen is very unreactive because the bond energy is very high and reactions involving nitrogen tend to break the entire bond

Ammonia, NH3 is a trigonal pyramidal molecule with a net dipole moment hence it is polar. Ammonia is also a weak base and a Bronsted-Lowry base. Hence, it is capable of accepting hydrogen ion to form ammonium ion, NH4

3H2(g) + N2(g) = 2NH3(g), exothermic

• Hydrogen gas is obtained by reacting methane, CH4 with steam art around 700*C and the presence of nickel as the catalyst

CH4(g) + H20(g) = CO(g) + 3H2(g)

• Nitrogen gas is obtained by the purification of air which contains mostly a mixture of nitrogen and oxygen at high temperature. Oxygen from the air will react with hydrogen to form water

2H3(g) + O2(g) = 2H2O(g)

Conditions:

• 400-450 *c

• 200atm

• iron powder as catalyst

• ratio of 1:3( N:O )

• Ammonia can be used to make fertilisers such as ammonium sulfate, ammonium nitrate and ammonium phosphate

• Ammonia can be used to make explosives

• Ammonia can be used to manufacture dyes, polymers and drugs

• Eutrophication is the process of excess growth leading to the destruction of life in the water because nitrate or ammonium fertilisers that is washed by the rain dissolves in the rain and this can promote growth of algae and eventually cause the algae to grow exponentially across the surface of the the water, blocking sunlight causing plants to die. The remains of the plants decompose and this process takes up a lot of oxygen from the water causing the decrease of oxygen level in the water until no life remains.

• Since nitrates can dissolve in water, removing from them from drinking water is very expensive. High levels of nitrates in drinking eater can cause a disease in young babies called blue baby syndrome. Nitrates can also cause stomach cancer

• Nitrogen monoxide, NO is formed when lightning strikes and in petrol engines where it is formed by the intense heat

N2(g) + O2(g) = 2NO(g)

• It can be removed by a catalytic converter that uses expensive metals like platinum as a catalyst to convert harmful pollutants to harmless substances. It converts the harmful nitrogen monoxide and carbon monoxide into harmless nitrogen and carbon dioxide gases.

2NO(g) + 2CO(g) = N2(g) + CO2(g)

• Nitrogen oxide is converted to nitrogen dioxide

NO(g) + O2(g) = 2NO2(g)

• Nitrogen dioxide acts as a catalyst in the conversion of sulfur dioxide into sulfur trioxide

SO2(g) + NO2(g) = SO3(g) + NO(g)

• Sulfur dioxide and sulfur trioxide are the main cause of acid rain. Sulfur dioxide oxidises into sulfur trioxide and it reacts with water in the atmosphere to form sulfuric acid

SO3(g) + H2O(I) = H2SO4(aq)

• The sulfuric acid then fall as acid rain and the nitrogen monoxide racts with water in the atmosphere to re-form nitrogen dioxide and the cycle repeats

2NO(g) + O2(g) = 2NO2(g)

• Sulfur dioxide is formed during the burning of fossil fuels like coal and oil that contains sulfur compounds

• Sulfur dioxide corrodes limestone buildings as the calcium carbonate reacts with the acid

• Sulfur dioxide is responsible for the acidification of lakes and rivers leading to the death of aquatic life

On the other hand, sulfur dioxide can be used as a food perservative for wine and dried fruits. It slows oxidation of the food and kills bacteria

According to Le chatelier's principle, the position of equilibrium will shift to the right if the pressure increases because there are less molecules on the right of the equation and a high pressure can increase the rate of reaction

Higher pressure is not used because it is expensive to build and maintain pipes and generators that can withstand the pressure and there is a risk of the pipes exploding

• Then sulfur dioxide is first converted into oleum or fuming sulfuric acid

H2SO4(I) + SO3(g) = H2S2O7(I)

• It is then reacted with water to produce sulfuric acid

H2S2O7(I) + H2O(I) = 2H2SO4(I)

In the last step, water cannot just react with sulfur trioxide. This is because a mist of poisonous and uncontrollable sulfuric acid will be formed. Dissolving it in concentrated sulfuric acid is a more gentle and safe way