week 4 assaignments

Iron (Fe)
The Haber process is the production of ammonia from a reaction between nitrogen and hydrogen, using an iron catalyst.

The Haber process takes nitrogen gas and combines it with hydrogen gas to form ammonia gas.

N2(g) + 3H2(g) → 2NH3(g)     ΔH=-92.4 kJ

This may make more sense:

or maybe this...

We can see that methane and steam combine to form hydrogen and carbon monoxide, which in turn releases hydrogen. The hydrogen then combines with oxygen from the air to produce water. Finally, nitrogen gas is released which combines with hydrogen gas to form ammonia. This takes place under high pressure and temperature and with an iron catalyst.
In this reaction, the iron is used to lower the activation energy so that the N2 and H2 can be easier to break down. With the use of the Iron the activation energy is greater. 

Sources 
http://www.chemguide.co.uk/physical/equilibria/haber.htmlhttp://chemwiki.ucdavis.edu/Physical_Chemistry/Chemical_Equilibrium/Case_Studies/Haber_Process

http://en.wikipedia.org
http://ellemedit1234.wordpress.com/2013/04/27/the-future-of-the-haber-process/




Green Chemistry as a Social Movement?

While we may be getting excited about the rise of the ‘Green Chemisty paradigm’  the truth is that the majority of the world continues to use brown paradigm practices.

Unfortunately, green chemistry is being imagined without a reconsideration of whether it might make sense to not create products that generate toxins in the first place.

This is because culturally anything related to Science is privileged and does not require a discussion of practices and consequences. In fact, the myth of infinite benefit and the myth of the endless frontier blind us to accept that good intentions are enough for the world.

This leads to a complete lack of discussion around mistakes, historical precedence, interests and the undemocratic use of resources. In fact, we accept all of these things as unintended consequences, or a normal part of technological innovation.  This unthinkability may be the most subtle and most potent form of techno scientific power. This unthinkability leads us to accept  green washing.

From what we have read and discussed in class I have not been convinced that green chemistry proponents have the power or paradigm to change the dominant sociopolitical order. Instead, “Green Chemistry” acts as tool to prevent social unrest- it pacifies consumers creating a division between consumers and comunities.

Green chemistry offers only a partial framework, it fails to challenge the relationship of science and power. As I have said in class and on my previous posts, without an anti-capitalist framework Green Chemistry falls short of producing any meaningful change. It must be paired with anti-capitalist and cosmopolitan ideas that are nuanced enough to allow all of civil society to have equal decision-making power.