Fertlisisers Flashcards
What is the harber process?
The process to make ammonia from nitrogen and hydrogen
Where is the nitrogen and hydrogen sourced from fro ammonia?
Nitrogen obtained from the air
Hydrogen comes from reacting methane with steam to produce hydrogen and carbon dioxide
Conditions for the harber process
Iron Catalyst
High temperature 450’C
Pressure of 200 atmospheres
Why certain conditions for ammonia production?
As it is a reversible reaction so it is needed to favour the forwards reaction (exothermic)
What are the main components of fertilisers?
Nitrogen
Phosphorus
Potassium
Why do we use fertilisers?
To improve crop yields
Make crops bigger and grow faster
How do we get phosphates?
Phosphate rock is mined and is reacted with acids to make a soluble phosphate
How do we get Potassium?
Potassium chloride and sulphate are mined and separated through electrolysis
How is ammonia used in fertilisers?
Can be reacted with oxygen and water to produce nitric acids
Can reacted with acids to produce ammonium salts
What is the reaction for ammonium nitrate?
Amonia + Nitric Acid = Ammonium nitrate
How is ammonium nitrates created in industry?
Carried out in vats at a high concentration which is exothermic
Heat released evaporates eater to produce a concentrated ammonium nitrate product
How is ammonium nitrates created in a lab?
Smaller scale using titration and crystallisation. Uses lower concentration of reactants so less heat is released
After titration, the mixture is then crystallised to create pure ammonium nitrate crystals
