BIO220H1 Chapter Notes - Chapter 5: Sal Ammoniac, Crop Yield, Kilogram
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BIO220H1 Full Course Notes
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Reading article 5: how a century of ammonia synthesis changed the world. Haber discovers how to synthesize ammonia (usable form of n) could be synthesized: react atmospheric nitrogen with hydrogen in presence of iron in high heat + pressure. Haber wanted to provide fertilizer nitrogen but also wanted material for explosive weapons: need reactive n. But also many environmental changes b/c of ammonia: water/air pollution, perturbation of ghg levels, loss of biodiversity. Before industrial processes depend on limited natural reservoirs of reactive n: guano, saltpeter, sal ammoniac from coal, = inefficient + energetically expensive ways. Hb process: lower energy, cheaper, n supply, most impact on explosives + fertilizers. Haber wanted to develop explosives + chemical weapons b/c they were more humane : would shorten the war . During ww1: used hb process to make ammonia to make tnt explosive. Hb process facilitate production of agricultural fertilizers on industrial scale: increase agricultural productivity.
