Is a H2O-N2 to H2-N2O Catalyst Possible?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the feasibility of creating a catalyst that converts water (H2O) and nitrogen (N2) into hydrogen (H2) and nitrous oxide (N2O). Participants explore the theoretical underpinnings of catalysis, the specifics of the proposed reaction, and the implications of such a catalyst for energy production.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that catalysts function by facilitating reactions between molecules without being consumed, proposing a hypothetical catalyst for the reaction of H2O and N2 into H2 and N2O.
  • Another participant provides a definition of catalysts, emphasizing their role in altering reaction rates.
  • A different participant notes that H2O can dissociate into H2 and O2 at ambient temperatures, raising questions about the mechanisms behind this process and its implications for the proposed catalyst.
  • One participant argues that the dissociation of water is slow and inefficient, asserting that the process is well understood through established theories of chemical equilibrium and Gibbs free energy.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the feasibility and understanding of the proposed catalyst and the dissociation of water. While some explore the potential for new reactions, others emphasize the existing knowledge and limitations of current theories.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes references to established theories in chemistry, such as Gibbs free energy and chemical equilibrium, but does not resolve the uncertainties regarding the proposed catalyst's viability or the mechanisms of water dissociation.

SAZAR
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How silly is this?

Catalysts work as sort of small chemical reactors -
they react with molecule of substance one and then the molecule of substance two is brought in the reaction
so those two can react now creating one or more new molecules as a final result
and also, by the way, leaving the catalyst unchanged - right?

Now - imagine a catalyst that takes in H2O and anything abundant (from the atmosphere) - say N2, so at room temperature it turns
H2O and N2
into
H2 and N2O (a laughing gas) :D
---

So - what are the thoughts on that? First: how much is such reaction discussed at all - I don't know?
Is it really possible to make such catalyst? (I mean the benefits of such chemical reaction are obvious - H2 can be used as fuel and N2O is a powerful oxidizer - those two could power vehicles and stuff...)
 
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Please have a look at the wiki on catalysts:
Catalytic reactions have a lower rate-limiting free energy of activation than the corresponding uncatalyzed reaction, resulting in higher reaction rate at the same temperature.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catalysis

The purpose of a catalyst is to alter the rate of a reaction.
 
Even at ambient temperature it occurs that H2O splits into H2 and O2:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_splitting
:
"but at ambient temperatures only one molecule in 100 trillion dissociates by the effect of heat"
"Thermal water splitting has been investigated for hydrogen production since the 1960s"

Does it happen because of impurities? Which impurity then? Or maybe it happens without impurities - then why - what causes it?
Why does it happen for that "crazy" one while others stay unchanged?
Maybe we would learn something if we could spot that one little rascal. :9
(I don't say it's a catalyst reaction maybe it's some common chemical reaction - but why does it wait to occur - is it just temperature... I mean - what happens there? Maybe some electric current occurred? Maybe a nuclear reaction of some nearby atom triggered it?)

I mean - what ever it is it produces hydrogen at room temperature without our intervention, on its own!
If we figure what happened we could use that to make that effect on larger scale.
 
Last edited:
It produces hydrogen but very slowly and inefficiently. And the process is very well understood from the kinetic and thermodynamic points of view, there is nothing here that won't be described by known and well established theories. Please read about chemical equilibrium and so called Gibbs free energy.
 

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