Match each transition metal or transition metal compound listed on the left with its corre… — JAMB UTME

Match each transition metal or transition metal compound listed on the left with its corresponding industrial catalytic process on the right.

Finely divided iron ( $Fe$ )Catalyst in the Haber process for manufacturing ammonia
Vanadium(V) oxide ( $V_2O_5$ )Catalyst in the Contact process for manufacturing tetraoxosulfate(VI) acid
Nickel ( $Ni$ )Catalyst in the hydrogenation of vegetable oils to margarine
Platinum ( $Pt$ )Catalyst in the Ostwald process for manufacturing trioxonitrate(V) acid

Answer

Finely divided iron matches the Haber process for manufacturing ammonia; Vanadium(V) oxide matches the Contact process for manufacturing tetraoxosulfate(VI) acid; Nickel matches the hydrogenation of vegetable oils to margarine; Platinum matches the Ostwald process for manufacturing trioxonitrate(V) acid.

Transition metals and their oxides serve as effective industrial catalysts due to their partially filled d-orbitals, variable oxidation states, and ability to adsorb reactant molecules onto their surfaces. Finely divided iron is the standard catalyst in the Haber process for ammonia synthesis, vanadium(V) oxide catalyzes sulfur dioxide oxidation in the Contact process, nickel catalyzes the hydrogenation of unsaturated vegetable oils, and platinum catalyzes the catalytic oxidation of ammonia in the Ostwald process.

Step-by-Step Solution

Identify the industrial reaction associated with finely divided iron.

Finely divided iron catalyzes

N_2(g) + 3H_2(g) \rightleftharpoons 2NH_3(g)

in the Haber process.

Iron provides a surface for nitrogen and hydrogen molecules to adsorb and react efficiently.

Identify the catalyst used in the Contact process.

Vanadium(V) oxide (

V_2O_5

) catalyzes

2SO_2(g) + O_2(g) \rightleftharpoons 2SO_3(g)

Vanadium exhibits variable oxidation states (

V^{5+}

and

V^{4+}

) allowing intermediate redox steps.

Identify the catalyst used in organic hydrogenation.

Nickel (

Ni

) catalyzes the conversion of unsaturated vegetable oils to saturated fats.

Finely divided nickel adsorbs hydrogen gas and liquid oil to facilitate addition across carbon-carbon double bonds.

Identify the catalyst used in the Ostwald process.

Platinum (

Pt

) catalyzes the oxidation of ammonia (

NH_3

) to nitrogen(II) oxide (

NO

Platinum gauze provides high surface area and stability at elevated temperatures required for ammonia oxidation.

Key Concept

Industrial Catalytic Applications of Transition Metals

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