Describe the industrial uses of hydrogen which depend on:
(i) the heat liberated when it burns,
(ii) its ability to react with vegetable oil in the presence of catalyst,
(iii) its ability to unite with nitrogen.
(i) When hydrogen is burnt in oxygen, heat is liberated. This heat is used in cutting as well as welding of metals. The apparatus in which heat is produced is called a oxy-hydrogen torch.
(ii) When dihydrogen is passed through vegetable oil at 8-10 atmospheric pressure and a temperature of 470 K.,vanaspati ghee (solid fat) is produced. The process is called hydrogenation or hardening of oils.
(iii) Dihydrogen combines with dinitrogen at 770 K and a pressure of 400-600 atmospheres in the presence of finely divided iron containing molybdenum, ammonia is produced. This is called Haber’s process for the manufacture of ammonia.
