Part A

Look at the window on the left side of the simulation. It shows the reaction A + BC = AB + C.

How does this reaction differ from the reaction by which ammonia is synthesized?

Part B

Decide which molecules in the simulation will represent the substances from the actual reaction.

Include a strategy to deal with the difference in structure between the actual reaction N2 + 3H2

= 2NH3 and the simulated reaction. Not all molecules need to be used.

Part C

In the Options window of the simulation, select Pie to show the pie chart. In the window labeled

Start with how many, use the up arrows to add 40 particles of A and 40 particles of BC. Then

press the Begin experiment button. Wait a few seconds for the reaction to come to equilibrium,

and then click pause near the bottom of the screen.

Study the graph on the left. The green line shows total average energy. The blue line shows the

amount of potential energy possessed by the reactants and the products. Recall that

substances most readily take the form in which they have the least potential energy. The

amount of potential energy can be adjusted, affecting the outcome of the reaction. Recall that in

the initial experiment for synthesizing ammonia, only about 20% of the reactants were converted

to the products.

Click the Play arrow to resume the simulation. Then adjust the potential energy curve so the

proportion of reactants to products is roughly the same as the proportion in the initial

experiment. Adjust the center slider up or down so there's a bump in the middle of the energy

curve. The bump represents the energy the particles must have to react. Take a screenshot of

the energy curve, and use the Insert Image button to paste it in the answer space.

Part D

In part D of task 1, you identified at least two ways in which the reaction of nitrogen and

hydrogen could be changed to alter the equilibrium. Use the simulation to test those changes.

Describe how you used the simulation to model the changes and the results they produced. Use

these methods if you find them helpful:

Look at the pie graph to see how the system changes.

Use the Temperature slider at the bottom to cool or heat the mixture.

Click the pause button on the simulation to observe the number of particles at any point of time.

Part E

From your observations of the simulation, which strategy was most effective for quickly and

efficiently producing ammonia? Why do you think this strategy is most effective?

Part F

Identify at least two limitations of the simulation. How do these limitations influence the

simulation's ability to model the synthesis of ammonia?