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1. What industrial process is responsible for extracting nitrogen from the atmosphere and transforming it into fertilizer on a large scale?
The Haber-Bosch process is a groundbreaking industrial method that synthesizes ammonia by combining atmospheric nitrogen with hydrogen, producing fertilizer on a massive scale. This process occurs in a high-pressure steel chamber, utilizing a specially designed valve and catalysts, such as iron oxides, to optimize energy efficiency and facilitate the reaction. Annually, the Haber-Bosch process extracts 100 million tonnes of nitrogen, generating 165 million tonnes of reactive nitrogen, significantly exceeding natural biological processes. This innovation has revolutionized fertilizer production, transforming agriculture globally.