Question detail
What is the main reason that industrial Haber plants operate at temperatures around 450 °C rather than at a lower temperature?
Try the question, check the answer, then read the explanation to understand the curriculum point.
At a glance
MCQ
Type
practice
Style
Topic
The Haber process and the use of NPK fertilisers
Question
- A. Lower temperatures would require more expensive catalysts.
- B. Lower temperatures would give a lower reaction rate, making production too slow.
- C. Lower temperatures would produce too much liquid ammonia.
- D. Lower temperatures would increase the pressure required.
Answer
The correct option is Lower temperatures would give a lower reaction rate, making production too slow.. This answer is correct because it matches the approved learning objective to explain the trade-off between rate of production and equilibrium yield in the Haber process. (HT only; Chemistry only) in the subtopic The Haber process.
Explanation
The correct option is Lower temperatures would give a lower reaction rate, making production too slow.. Lower temperatures would give a lower reaction rate, making production too slow. is correct because it directly supports the approved learning objective to explain the trade-off between rate of production and equilibrium yield in the Haber process. (HT only; Chemistry only). This belongs to the subtopic The Haber process within The Haber process and the use of NPK fertilisers, so the explanation must stay tied to that curriculum context. The other options are incorrect because they either do not answer this learning objective, use a vague statement, or move away from The Haber process.
Common mistake
Rate vs. Yield Confusion
Students often confuse the concepts of rate of production and equilibrium yield, thinking that increasing the rate always increases the yield.
To fix this, students should understand that while a higher rate of production can lead to more product in a shorter time, the equilibrium yield is determined by the reaction conditions and the position of equilibrium, which may not change with rate.
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