N₂ + 3 H₂ ⇌ 2 NH₃ over Fe (or Ru) catalyst at ~450°C/200 atm. Produces ~200 Mt NH₃/y globally; feeds ~50% of human population via fertilizer. Earns Haber Nobel 1918, Bosch 1931.
Haber–Bosch ammonia synthesis
Related concepts
- Catalysis
- Oxidation-reduction (redox)
- Covalent bond
- NPK fertilizer
- Soil fertility management
- Pesticide classification
- Glyphosate
- Neonicotinoids
- Biopesticide
- Controlled-release fertilizer
- Compressible flow
- Silent Spring (Carson 1962)
- Green revolution (Borlaug 1966)
- Rotenone toxicity (Shimkin 1939)
- Bt-toxin (Schnepf 1981)
- Rhizobium (Beijerinck 1888)
- Phytochrome (Borthwick 1952)