Question

In the Birkeland-Eyde process for manufacture of nitric acid, the yield of nitric oxide $({N_2} + {O_2} \to 2NO)$ remains unaffected with the increase in pressure. If true enter 1, if false enter 0.

Answer 1

The Birkeland-Eyde process (also known as the arc process) is an industrial process, which acts as the first step for nitrogen-based fertilizer production. It is a process of nitrogen fixation which comprises the production of nitrogen oxide by passing air through an electric arch. It is an industrial process of preparing nitric acid.

Complete answer:
The Birkeland-Eyde process was introduced in 1903 by the Norwegian industrialist and scientist Kristian Birkeland and Sam Eyde.
The Birkeland-Eyde process acts as a method of fixing atmospheric nitrogen $(N)$ and converts it into nitric acid $(HN{O_3})$, commonly known as nitrogen fixation.
The nitrogen and oxygen from the air undergo the Birkeland-Eyde process.
The process comprises the passing of alternating current pulses through an electric arc and suppressing the magnetic field created by it.
The electric arc comprises two copper electrodes which are continuously circulated with cold water and pumps to heat the air. The nitrogen and oxygen in the air combine at $3000^\circ$ to form nitric oxide.
One mole of nitrogen combines with one mole of oxygen to form two moles of gaseous product. As both the reactant and product comprise 2 gaseous moles, the volume does not change.
As the volume is constant, the equilibrium is maintained. The increase of pressure does not affect the equilibrium and thus the Birkeland-Eyde process is not affected by the pressure. The answer is True (1).

Note: The Birkeland-Eyde process is considered to be inefficient because of the energy use and is nowadays replaced by a combination of the Haber process and Ostwald process which uses ammonia to produce nitrous acid. The Birkeland-Eyde process requires $C{O_2}$ and dust-free air which is an artificial process that produces $1\%$ yellow-coloured nitric acid. This brownish-yellow colour is removed by bubbling air through warm acid.