Which gases react to form ammonia in the Haber-Bosch process?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

The Haber-Bosch process synthesizes ammonia through the direct reaction of elemental nitrogen and elemental hydrogen gases.12

The chemical equation for this reaction is:
N2+3H2→2NH3

To make this process economically feasible, the reaction is conducted under high pressure (typically 100–1,000 atmospheres) and at elevated temperatures (400–650 °C), utilizing a catalyst—most commonly iron—to facilitate the formation of ammonia.12