Question

Why is it necessary to remove CO when ammonia is obtained by Haber's process?

Answer 1

Haber’s process is the suitable industrial process for the manufacturing of Ammonia. Carbon monoxide acts as a poison and adversely affects the activity of iron catalyst and also promotes molybdenum in the Haber’s process.

Complete answer:
Haber process which is also known as Haber – Bosch process is basically one of the most efficient and successful industrial procedures to be adopted for the production of ammonia ($N{H_3}$).
The Haber’s process for the synthesis of ammonia is based on the reaction of nitrogen (${N_2}$) and hydrogen (${H_2}$). In this process, the reaction is an exothermic reaction one where there is a release of energy. The chemical reaction is shown below:
${N_2}(g) + 3{H_2}(g) \to 2N{H_3}(g)$
Nitrogen (${N_2}$) in the reaction is obtained by separating nitrogen from the air through the liquefaction and hydrogen (${H_2}$) is obtained from natural gas by steam reforming.
${\mathbf{C}}{{\mathbf{H}}_{\mathbf{4}}}\left({\mathbf{g}}\right)+{{\mathbf{H}}_{\mathbf{2}}}{\mathbf{O}} \to {{\mathbf{H}}_{\mathbf{2}}}\left( {\mathbf{g}} \right) + {\mathbf{CO}}\left( {\mathbf{g}} \right)$
It is very necessary to remove carbon monoxide (CO) when ammonia is prepared by Haber's process because CO acts as a poison and adversely affects the activity of iron catalyst, used in the process. CO also promotes molybdenum which are used in the Heber's process. Moreover, it is likely to combine with iron to form iron carbonyl 1Fe{\left( {CO} \right)_5}$$$$1Fe{\left( {CO} \right)_5}. Therefore, it is necessary to remove it from the reaction mixture by suitable means.

Note:
German chemists Fritz Haber along with his assistant in the 20th century developed high-pressure devices and catalysts to carry out the process on a laboratory scale. Later, Carl Bosch in the year 1910 took the design and created a machine for industrial-level production. This was indeed an important development in the field of science.