In the Ostwald process, what is the first reaction that takes place?

In the Ostwald process, the first reaction involves the oxidation of ammonia (NH3) to produce nitrogen monoxide (NO). This step is significant because it initiates the conversion of ammonia, which is derived from earlier processes (such as the Haber process), into nitrogen monoxide.

The reaction can be represented as:

[ 4 , \text{NH}_3 + 5 , \text{O}_2 \rightarrow 4 , \text{NO} + 6 , \text{H}_2\text{O} ]

This is important because nitrogen monoxide serves as a precursor for further reactions in the Ostwald process, including the oxidation of nitrogen monoxide to nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and subsequent reactions leading to nitric acid (HNO3) production.

Understanding this sequence highlights the critical role of ammonia in the process and sets the foundation for comprehending the entire Ostwald process, which is essential in industrial applications, particularly in producing fertilizers and other nitrogenous compounds. The other options do not represent the initial step in the process and are not related to the conversion of ammonia into nitrogen monoxide.