Topic 10 - Fertilisers Flashcards
(14 cards)
What do growing plants require?
they require nutrients, including compounds containing nitrogen, phosphorus or
potassium.
What are fertilisers?
they are substances which restore elements, essential for healthy plant growth, to the soil..
What are ammonia and nitric acid used to produce?
they are used to produce soluble, nitrogen containing salts that can be used as fertilisers.
What are the properties of ammonia?
it is a pungent, clear, colourless gas which dissolves in water to produce an
alkaline solution.
What does ammonia produce when it reacts with acids?
soluble salts
ammonia solution + an acid
= an ammonium salt + water
What is the haber process used for?
it is used to produce the ammonia required for fertiliser production.
Haber process equation
N₂(g) + 3H₂(g) ⇌ 2NH₃(g)
What happens to the rate of forward reaction at low temperatures in the Haber process?
the forward reaction is too slow to be economical.
What happens when the temperature is increased in the Haber process?
the rate of reaction increases but, as the temperature increases, the
backward reaction becomes more dominant.
What is the catalyst in the Haber process?
an iron catalyst is used to increase reaction rate.
What is the starting material for the commercial production of nitric acid?
ammonia
What does the ostwald process do?
it uses ammonia, oxygen and water to produce nitric acid.
What is the ostwald process catalyst?
platinum
