Adsorption of nitrogen and hydrogen on an iron-promoted catalyst for the synthesis of ammonia

The adsorption of nitrogen on a catalyst, whose surface was preliminarily filled with hydrogen, as well as the adsorption of hydrogen on a surface filled with nitrogen, have been investigated. Hydrogen and nitrogen are adsorbed on the same surface sites. Nitrogen is adsorbed considerably more strongly than is hydrogen. The adsorbed nitrogen displaced the preliminarily adsorbed hydrogen from the surface. Under the conditions of the synthesis of ammonia the hydrogen above the catalyst has no influence on the adsorption of nitrogen. 5 figures.