Ammonium nitrate, urea and superphosphates are made industrially.
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Fertilisers supply the nutrients nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium that crops need to grow. Nitrogen fertilisers are made mainly from ammonia, which is converted into ammonium nitrate or urea, with urea made from ammonia and carbon dioxide. Phosphate rock is treated with sulfuric or phosphoric acid to make superphosphate or triple superphosphate, while potassium is supplied as mined potash, mainly potassium chloride. Balanced application maximises yields while limiting losses to water. Overuse causes nitrate and phosphate runoff that contributes to eutrophication.
Key ideas: Plants need N, P, K. NPK labels give percent N, P2O5 and K2O. Urea (46 percent N) from NH3 plus CO2; ammonium nitrate from NH3 plus HNO3; superphosphate from phosphate rock plus sulfuric acid, Ca3(PO4)2 plus 2H2SO4 gives Ca(H2PO4)2 plus 2CaSO4; potash is KCl. Nitrogen use efficiency is under 50 percent.
Common mistakes and connections: Mistake: blaming fertilizer only for excess, since runoff and leaching cause eutrophication and N2O emissions. Phosphate rock is finite. Ammonium nitrate is also an explosive. Calculate nitrogen percent from formula: N mass over molar mass times 100. Links to Haber process, eutrophication and soil pH.
Nitrogen content by mass of common fertilisers. Urea is among the most concentrated nitrogen fertilisers. The interactive lesson shows this as a live animation or chart.
Urea contains about 46 percent nitrogen by mass, which makes it one of the most concentrated nitrogen fertilisers.
Ammonium nitrate, urea and superphosphates are made industrially.
Fertilizer Production is a intermediate topic in Biochemistry, Environment & Industry. It builds on the vocabulary of beginner topics in this area.
Study these earlier topics in Biochemistry, Environment & Industry first: Soap Making, Glass Manufacture, Cement Manufacture.
The next topics in Biochemistry, Environment & Industry are Explosives and Fireworks Chemistry.
Yes. The interactive lesson includes a self-check question on Fertilizer Production, and the Biochemistry, Environment & Industry quiz draws on every topic in this area.
Fertilizer Production is topic 106 of 127 in Biochemistry, Environment & Industry.
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