A Study in Nitrogen Fixation at Atmospheric Pressures

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Abstract
The formation of cyanogen and hydrocyanic acid from their elements was studied in a system wherein carbon filaments were heated to incandescence in atmospheres of nitrogen and of nitrogen and hydrogen. It was found that cyanogen was formed from its elements at 2,200°C, or higher, and its concentration was determined by chemical tests. The rate of formation in the carbon arc appeared to be rapid. The cyanogen equilibrium has been measured at 2,000° to 2,300°C and an equation therefor has been developed with the use of published thermal data. Hydrocyanic acid begins to form from its elements at 1,400°C. The equilibrium was measured at 1,585°C but could not be attained at higher temperatures. The rate of formation of hydrocyanic acid is slow even at 1,800° C. The initial rate of formation of hydrocyanic acid was found to be represented by an equation of the form The exponent 1/2, however, varied somewhat, apparently the result of some variation in the property of the carbon. The variation of the specific reaction rate with temperature was established and the activation energy of the rate‐controlling reaction was calculated therefrom.

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