How many pounds of oxygen are needed to convert 1 pound of ammonia?

To determine how many pounds of oxygen are needed to convert 1 pound of ammonia ((NH_3)) through biological or chemical oxidation processes, we examine the stoichiometry involved in the oxidation of ammonia to nitrate ((NO_3^-)). The balanced chemical equation for this reaction is:

[

NH_3 + 2 O_2 \rightarrow 2 NO_3^- + 2 H^+ + 2 H_2O

]

From this equation, it can be seen that 1 mole of ammonia requires 2 moles of oxygen for complete oxidation. In terms of molar mass, the molecular weight of ammonia is approximately 17 grams per mole, while the molecular weight of oxygen is about 32 grams per mole.

To convert 1 pound (which is approximately 454 grams) of ammonia to nitrate, the amount of oxygen needed can be calculated as follows:

1. Convert the weight of ammonia to moles:

[

\frac{454 \text{ grams}}{17 \text{ grams/mole}} \approx 26.71 \text{ moles of } NH_3

]

2. According to the balanced equation, for every mole of