C6.1 Flashcards
What are the 3 essential elements needed by plants?
Nitrogen
Phosphorus
Potassium
What are the typical symptoms of a plant with nitrogen deficiency?
Poor growth
Yellow leaves
What are the typical symptoms of a plant with phosphorus deficiency?
Poor root growth
Discoloured leaves
What are the typical symptoms of a plant with potassium deficiency?
Poor fruit growth
Discoloured leaves
What are fertilisers?
Substances that replace the elements used by plants as they grow
What are the conditions for plants to absorb elements?
They have to be in a water-soluble form
How would plants absorb nitrogen?
The nitrogen has to be in the form of:
Nitrate ions = (NO3)-
Ammonium ions = (NH4)-
How would plants absorb phosphorus?
Phosphorus in:
Phosphate ions = (PO4)3-
How would plants absorb potassium?
In the form of potassium ions = (K)-
What are NPK fertilisers?
Fertilisers that provide nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in water-soluble compounds
What are the different fertilisers made in factories?
Ammonium Nitrate
Ammonium Sulfate
Ammonium Phosphate
Potassium Nitrate
What is the formula for ammonium nitrate?
NH4NO3
What is the formula for ammonium sulfate?
(NH4)2SO4
What is the formula for ammonium phosphate?
(NH4)3PO4
What is the formula for potassium nitrate?
KNO3
Which fertilisers can be easily made in a laboratory?
Potassium Sulfate - K2SO4
Ammonium Sulfate - (NH4)2SO4
How do you make potassium sulphate in a lab?
- Put dilute potassium hydroxide - KOH(aq) - in a conical flask and add a few drops of phenolphthalein indicator
- Add dilute Sulfuric acid - H2SO4(aq) - from a pipette, stopping when the indicator turns colourless
- Add ‘activated charcoal’ and filter the mixture
- Warm the filtrate to evaporate the water - leaving the potassium Sulfate behind - don’t heat to dryness
Why is phenolphthalein needed when making potassium Sulfate?
It enables you to determine when the alkali (potassium hydroxide) has been neutralised
What will the indicator colour change be when making potassium Sulfate?
Pink to colourless
What is activated charcoal?
A very fine carbon powder with a lard surface area - absorbs many substances
What does the activated charcoal do when making potassium sulfate?
It attracts the phenolphthalein indicator so you can filter it out with the charcoal
What is the formula for potassium hydroxide solution?
KOH(aq)
What is the formula for sulfuric acid?
H2SO4(aq)
What is the formula for potassium sulfate?
K2SO4(aq)