# Transcript

NARRATOR

The oxidation of ammonia to nitrogen monoxide, using a platinum catalyst, is the first step in the industrial preparation of nitric acid. Here's our small-scale version. Oxygen is bubbled through a concentrated ammonia solution.

We heat our platinum catalyst until it glows. See how it continues to glow when placed in the flask. And occasionally [POPPING NOISE] explosions occur. It's the heat produced in this highly exothermic reaction that keeps the wire glowing.