Answer to Question #175636 in General Chemistry for Lisa Middlebrook

Question

The oxidation of NH3 (g) to NO(g) in the Ostwald process must be very carefully

controlled in terms of temperature, pressure, and contact time with the catalyst. This is because the oxidation of NH3(g) can yield any one of the products N2 (g), N2O (g), NO(g), and NO2(g), depending on conditions. Show that oxidation of NH3 (g) to N2 (g) is the most exothermic of the four possible reactions

Answer 1

This is an example of displacement as well as redox reaction. Oxygen displaces hydrogen of ammonia. Hence, this is a displacement reaction. Nitrogen of ammonia is getting oxidized with the addition of oxygen. This is also an example of redox reaction.