4 ms·

This article doesn't clarify why the authors are so surprised about calcium catalyzing this reaction. The Frank-Caro process is based on calcium carbide and is

• alan-crowe 3y ago
  Reading the Wikipedia page, the Frank-Caro process is a straight forward chemical reaction. Shovel calcium carbide into your reactor. After the reaction is done, shovel calcium cyanamide out of the reactor and on to your farm land to fertilize it. The calcium is "consumed" in the process, in direct proportion to the amount of fertilizer that the reaction creates. The article talks about Ca3CrN3H as a catalyst, giving the impression that the three nitrogen atoms in the compound stay put; it is different nitrogen atoms that get pumped into the reactor and leave as ammonia to be spread as fertilizer. The calcium remains in place, merely making the reaction go faster. Catalysis is always a bit mysterious because the catalyst is unchanged by the reaction as though it wasn't involved at all. I don't think that there is any expectation that one can discover catalysts by taking reactants as a hint. Indeed, the classic platinum catalyst in a catalytic converter uses platinum, a very unreactive metal.
  • stonogo 3y ago
    This is the bit I was missing, thanks! I knew of the Frank-Caro process but not enough detail to understand the exact reaction. I appreciate your help.