Birkeland-Eyde process

Question

I have a question about the Birkeland-Eyde process, more specifically on a smaller scale. I know that at 3000 degrees celsius you can produce nitrogen dioxide. I am interested in how this works. Could you explain? Like what allows the nitrogen to make a covalent bond with the oxygen? I am also wondering what transformer voltage and amps are required to make the jacob's ladder hot enough to make the Nitrogen bond with the oxygen. I am interested in making a nitrogen dioxide generator in the interest of making nitric acid by bubbling it into water. How difficult would this be to make? My plan is roughly to take a three headed round bottom flask and in one head have a small electronic air pump in the middle would be my Jacob's ladder attached to what I plan to be a neon sign transformer. and in the last head would be tubing to a flask with water to produce my nitric acid. Does that sound right?

Answer 1

Explanation of the Birkeland-Eyde Process:

Reaction at High Temperature:

Temperature: At around 3000°C, nitrogen (N₂) and oxygen (O₂) in the air can react to form nitrogen dioxide (NO₂).

Bond Formation: The high temperature provides enough energy to break the strong triple bond in nitrogen (N≡N) and the double bond in oxygen (O=O), allowing the atoms to recombine into nitrogen oxides (NO and NO₂).

Transformer Voltage and Amps:

Jacob's Ladder Requirements:

Voltage and Amps: A neon sign transformer typically provides around 10-15 kV (10,000-15,000 volts) and a few tens of milliamps (30-60 mA). This is sufficient to create the high-temperature plasma needed for the reaction.

Making a Nitrogen Dioxide Generator:

Setup Consideration:

Three-Headed Round Bottom Flask:

Head 1: Air pump to introduce air (providing N₂ and O₂).

Head 2: Jacob's ladder connected to a neon sign transformer to generate the high-temperature arc.

Head 3: Tubing leading to a water flask to bubble the NO₂ and form HNO₃.

Practical Challenges:

Safety: High voltages and the production of toxic gases (NO₂) require careful handling and proper ventilation.

Consistency: Maintaining a stable temperature and ensuring a continuous reaction might be challenging.

Your plan seems feasible, but ensure safety protocols are strictly followed due to high voltage and toxic gases.