✅C6.1 (1) - fertilisers, haber + contact processes Flashcards
c6.1.1 - c6.1.4
why are nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium compounds important in agricultural production?
- what happens without them
without them, quality and yield of food would be reduced
- as they would be mineral deficient
how do fertilisers help plants?
replace the elements used by plants as they grow
what form must elements be in in order for plants to absorb them?
- and name them for each element
- water soluble (ie. ions) NPK - NO3- (nitrate ions), or NH4 +(ammonium ions) - PO43- (phosphorus ions) - K+ (potassium ions)
what do NPK fertilisers do?
provide plants with nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus in water soluble compounds
what is the importance of the Haber process in agricultural production?
it produces ammonia from nitrogen and hydrogen
MS:
Endless supply of starting materials / no need to use solid raw materials to make fertilisers (1)
Ammonia used to make fertilisers which increase crop yield (1)
why is ammonia important in agricultural production?
is a large source of nitrogen, and so is used to make nitrogen based fertilisers
how is nitrogen obtained for the Haber process?
fractional distillation of liquefied air
how is hydrogen produced for the Haber process?
reacting natural gas (ie. methane) with steam
in terms of processes, what happens in a fertiliser factory?
several different processes are inegrated using a variety of raw materials
how do you manufacture ammonium nitrate?
1) react methane + air + water
2) react ammonia + nitric acid
how do you manufacture ammonium sulfate?
1) methane + air + water
(produces ammonia)
2) ammonia + sulfuric acid
why and how is phosphate rock treated?
- because it cannot be used directly as a fertiliser
- is treated with nitric acid/sulfuric acid
- to produce a soluble salt
what are the 3 differences between the industrial and lab production of fertilisers?
LAB - use ammonia solution/sulfuric acid (bought from chemical manufacturer) - small scale - only few stages titration -> crystallisation
INDUSTRY
- use raw materials + purify them (ie. to make ammonia)
- large scale
- many stages needed
describe the process of making potassium sulfate in the lab
1) dilute potassium hydroxide solution into conical flask
2) add drops of phenolphthalein indicator
3) perform titration with sulfuric acid
(colour changes from pink to colourless)
4) add activated charcoal
(attracts phenolphthalein indicator)
5) filter mixture (removes charcoal + indicator)
6) warm filtrate to evaporate water + leave behind potassium sulfate salt. You must not heat this to dryness.
what are the three ‘main’ processes when making potassium sulfate salt?
- and what is each for?
1) titration (neutralise acid)
2) filtration (get rid of indicator)
3) crystallisation (obtain salt from solution)
describe the process of making ammonium sulfate - there’s another card later w/ full process
1) dilute ammonium solution with methyl orange indicator
2) titration
add dilute sulfuric acid (H2SO4, from a burette or dropping pipette) (until indicator changes from yellow to red)
3) once end-point reached, add a little extra ammonia solution to ensure reaction is complete
(excess released as ammonia gas//any remaining ammonia will be lost during evaporation)
difference between lab and industrial process (in terms of solutions)
LAB = dilute solutions (as they can be dangerous)
IND = concentrated solutions (so they have a higher yield)
dangers while making fertilisers through lab processes?
- when making ammonium sulfate and potassium sulfate
- do not inhale fumes (ammonia gives off an irritating sharp smell)
- ammonia solution and potassium hydroxide solution are alkaline
(Googled: , wouldn’t worry - just remember the fumes)
- potassium hy = contact can severely irritate and burn the skin and eyes leading to eye damage. ► Contact can irritate the nose and throat
- amm sol = corrosive injury including skin burns, permanent eye damage or blindness.
what is the purpose of the experiments to produce a fertiliser?
to produce the salt
what are the three conditions needed for the haber process?
- 200 atmospheres pressure (20MPa)
- 450 degree celcius
- iron catalyst
write out the symbol equation for the haber process
N (g) + 3H (g) ⇌ 2NH (g)
2 2 3
is the haber process endothermic or exothermic?
exothermic
🔺H = -93kj/mol
how does a higher pressure affect the haber process?
(think about the equation)
- and why or why not would you use it
- increases the equilibrium yield 4 vs 2 mol
- would not use it as it is hazardous (at high pressure, for the containers)
- and would be expensive
how does a higher temperature affect the haber process? (equation)
- and why or why not would you use it?
- decreases equilibrium yield (shifts position to left)
is exothermic - but not too low, or else rate of reaction is too low
COMPROMISE - low enough for reasonable yield, but high enough for rate of reaction
give one more reason why the haber process is not carried out at a low temperature?
as the iron catalyst works more efficient above 400 degrees celcius