C6.1 Flashcards
What are the essential elements for plants?
Nitrogen
Phosphorus
Potassium
Don’t grow well if these are in limited supply, may show symptoms of mineral deficiency
What are the typical symptoms of deficiency of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium?
Nitrogen - poor growth, yellow leaves
Phosphorus - poor root growth, discoloured leaves
Potassium - poor fruit growth, discoloured leaves
What are fertilisers?
Substances that replace the elements used by the plants when they grow
Plant roots can only absorb these is they’re in water soluble form
Nitrogen in nitrate ions or ammonium ions
Phosphorus in phosphate ions
Potassium as potassium ions
What are NPK fertilisers?
Provide nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in water+soluble compounds
What is the haber process?
Manufactures ammonia form nitrogen and hydrogen:
N2 (g) + 2H (g) >< 2NH3 (g)
150 tonnes of ammonia made, 80% for fertilisers
How are the raw materials for the haber process obtained?
- nitrogen from fractional distillation of liquified air (78% nitrogen)
- hydrogen by reacting natural gas (mainly methane) with steam
What happens in fertiliser factories?
Many raw materials are needed
Different processes are integrated so a range of compounds for fertilised are made
Pg197
How do you make potassium sulfate (fertiliser)?
1) dilute potassium hydroxide solution into a conical flask and add a few drops of phenolphthalein indicator (changes colour at the end point of neutralisation)
2) add dilute sulfuric acid from a burette or dropping pipette, stopping when the indicator changes from pink to colourless
3) add activated charcoal which attracts the phenolphthalein and you can filter the mixture to remove the activated charcoal with the phenolphthalein attached to it
4) warm the filtrate to evaporate the water, leaving potassium sulfate behind. Must not heat this to dryness
How do you make ammonium sulfate (fertiliser)?
1) place the dilute ammonia solution in a conical flask with methyl orange indicator. Ammonia solution releases small volumes of ammonia in gas state, which has an irrating sharp smell
2) add sulfuric acid form a burette or dropping pipette, stopping when the indicator changes from yellow to red
3) when you reach the end point add a little extra ammonia solution to ensure the reaction is complete. Any a remaining ammonia will be lost during evaporation
What is the batch process?
When a small amount of the substance is made at one time
What is the continuous process?
Many industrial processes use it
Makes large amounts and go on 24/7
What are the conditions used for the haber process?
- pressure 200atm (atmospheres)
- a temperature of 450C
- iron catalyst
What happens to unreacted gases?
The ammonia leaving is liquified so the unreacted iatrogenic and hydrogen is recycled
Yield is improved to 97%
What is the contact process?
Set of reactions to produce sulfuric acid
What are the raw materials needed for the contact process?
- sulfur
- air
- water
What happens in stage 1 of the contact process?
Sulfur burns in air to produce sulfur dioxide:
S (s) + O2 (g) > SO2 (g) (-297kJ/mol)
What happens in stage 2 in the contact process?
Sulfur dioxide and oxygen react together to produce sulfur trioxide:
2SO2 (g) + O2 (g) >< 2SO3 (g)
- pressure of 2atm
- 450C
- vanadium oxide catalyst
Equilibrium yield of sulfuric trioxide is 96%