Question

From the statement "nitrogen and hydrogen react to produce ammonia," identify the reactants and the products.

Short answer

Reactants: nitrogen and hydrogen; Product: ammonia.

Step-by-step solution

Identifying the Reactants

In a chemical reaction, the reactants are the substances that undergo change. In the given statement, the substances that are reacting are nitrogen and hydrogen. Therefore, the reactants are nitrogen (N₂) and hydrogen (H₂).

Identifying the Products

The products in a chemical reaction are the substances that are formed from the reactants. According to the statement, ammonia is produced from the reaction of nitrogen and hydrogen. Thus, the product of this reaction is ammonia (NH₃).

Summarizing the Reaction

Now that we have identified both reactants and products, the chemical equation can be summarized as: nitrogen (N₂) and hydrogen (H₂) react to form ammonia (NH₃). In chemical terms, this is often written as: \[ N_2 + 3H_2 \rightarrow 2NH_3 \].

Conclusion

From the given statement, we conclude that nitrogen and hydrogen are the reactants, and ammonia is the product in this chemical reaction.

Key concepts

Reactants and Products

Understanding the terms "reactants" and "products" is key to grasping chemical reactions. In every chemical reaction, reactants are the substances that start the process. They interact and transform during the reaction. On the other end, products are the new substances formed as a result of the reaction.
As an example, in the statement "nitrogen and hydrogen react to produce ammonia," nitrogen ( N_2 ) and hydrogen ( H_2 ) are the reactants. This means they are the starting materials in this specific reaction. Ammonia ( NH_3 ), on the other hand, is the product. It is the new substance that forms when nitrogen and hydrogen react with each other.
To visualize this concept:

• Reactants: Nitrogen ( N_2 ), Hydrogen ( H_2 )
• Product: Ammonia ( NH_3 )

Recognizing which elements or compounds are reactants and which are products will help you understand what takes place in any chemical reaction.

Ammonia Synthesis

Ammonia synthesis is a classic example of a chemical reaction involving reactants and products. Ammonia is an essential compound, widely used in fertilizers, cleaning products, and the production of various chemicals. This synthesis is achieved through a process called the Haber-Bosch process.
In this process, nitrogen ( N_2 ) from the air and hydrogen ( H_2 ), usually derived from natural gas, are combined to produce ammonia ( NH_3 ). The reaction occurs under high pressure and temperature, with the help of a catalyst to speed up the process.
To understand the basics:

• Reactants involved: Nitrogen ( N_2 ), Hydrogen ( H_2 )
• Conditions: High temperature, high pressure, and a catalyst
• Product of the reaction: Ammonia ( NH_3 )

The synthesis of ammonia is crucial because it provides a significant source of nitrogen necessary for plant growth. Thus, successfully understanding and conducting ammonia synthesis impacts agriculture and the global food supply.

Chemical Equations

Chemical equations provide a simple yet powerful way to represent chemical reactions. They use symbols and formulas to show the reactants and products, making it clear how substances interact in a reaction.
A basic chemical equation follows the format:

• Reactants on the left side
• An arrow (→) indicating the direction of the reaction
• Products on the right side

For example, the ammonia synthesis reaction from nitrogen and hydrogen is represented by the equation: \[ N_2 + 3H_2 \rightarrow 2NH_3 \]
This tells us that one nitrogen molecule reacts with three hydrogen molecules to produce two molecules of ammonia.
Understanding chemical equations is crucial because they show the conservation of mass. The number of atoms for each element remains the same on both sides of the equation. This principle, known as "balancing" a chemical equation, is fundamental in studying chemistry and understanding chemical reactions.