3. Making Nitric Acid Ammonia is changed into nitric acid in the Ostwald process. This is another equilibrium process which starts with the reaction of ammonia and oxygen. 4NH 3 (g) + 5O 2 (g) -> 4NO(g) + 6H 2 O(g) ∆ H= -900 kJmol-1 The optimum (best) conditions for this process which give the greatest yield are a pressure of 10 atmospheres a temperature of about 900 °C a catalyst of platinum and rhodium The nitrogen monoxide is then mixed with oxygen and flows up a column down which water flows. The result is a solution of 65% nitric acid. 4NO(g) + 3O 2 (g) +2H 2 O(l) -> 4HNO 3 (aq)