Module 8 Depth Study- Sulfate Content in Fertiliser

Background information

● Gravimetric analysis is used to find the weight or concentration of a specific

compound in a substance through isolating the substance through precipitation
● The sulfate content in fertilisers is found using this method by isolating sulfate
through precipitation
● As a naturally occurring element, sulphur is extremely beneficial in agriculture as it
provides many nutrients to plants. This is why sulfate can be found in many fertilisers
such as ammonium sulfate.
● To stay healthy, plants need a certain amount of sulfate from a range of 10-30 lbs per
acre.
● Fertilisers that contain Sulfur must only contain a certain amount between the range
that is healthy for plants.
● High concentrations of sulfur in fertilisers can cause an increase in salts which can
accumulate in plants
● Plants usually would become dark in colour because of salt damage
● When plants don’t achieve enough Sulfur from fertilisers they may achieve sulfate
deficiency
● This results in the yellowing of the plant and discolouration occurring in leaf areas
● Therefore, gravimetric analysis is extremely important to identify Sulfur
concentrations in fertilisers to make sure plants won’t be affected from Sulfur toxicity
or Sulfur deficiency
● Gravimetric analysis will help determine if a fertiliser has enough, too much or too
little sulfate concentrations

Aim: To determine the amount of sulfate content in a lawn fertiliser using gravimetric analysis

Hypothesis: The sulfate content of the fertiliser is hypothesised to be 38% as indicated by

the contents of the label on the fertiliser’s packaging

Variables:
Independent: temperature of fertiliser prior to testing
Dependent: Barium sulfate precipitate will be measured using a scale
Controlled: type of fertiliser, mass of fertiliser, volume of water
Materials:
● Lawn fertiliser sample (powdered)
● 25ml of warm water
● Concentrated hydrochloric acid
● Glass rod
● 250ml beaker
● Crucible
● Bunsen burner
● Brunette
● Retort stand
● Barium chloride solution
 ● Filter paper
● Filter
● Distilled water
● Scale
Method:
1. 250ml beaker was accurately weighed using a scale
2. Lawn fertiliser sample was added to the beaker and also accurately weighed using a
scale
3. 25ml of warm water were measured using a pipette and added to the beaker
containing fertiliser sample
4. The contents were mixed using a glass rod and so fertiliser was dissolved
5. 10 drops of concentrated hydrochloric acid was added to the solution
6. The solution was heated in a crucible over a Bunsen burner until the solution has
boiled
7. Using a burette, the barium chloride solution was measured to 7% of the solution and
added to the hot mixture in the crucible
8. The mixture was reheated again to boiling point to form a white precipitate
9. The mixture was cooled for about 5-10 minutes
10. Filter paper was measured on a scale
11. The mixture was filtered using filter paper and a filter over a beaker until precipitate
was fully filtered
12. The precipitate of barium sulfate was allowed to dry completely
13. The precipitate on filter paper was then measured using a scale
14. Record your results and complete calculations to find the sulfate content of this
fertiliser
Results:
Discussion:
The hypothesis of the sulfate content in the lawn fertiliser would be 38% as indicated from
the fertiliser’s packaging was proven to be incorrect from this experiment. The true value of
the sulfate content of the lawn fertiliser was 72.70% which shows a much higher value than
the fertiliser package had indicated. In an ideal experiment, the fertiliser would have only
contained sulfate ions which would be the only solid precipitate that would form.

However, this experiment does not take into account any experimental errors that could have
caused a higher result percentage than expected. As lawn fertilisers do not only contain
sulfate ions, ions like phosphate could have also formed a precipitate with barium which
could have resulted in the result in which we have formed.

This would make the experiment highly inaccurate as we have not only measured the sulfate
content but also other ions with it as we did not take into account other ions in the fertilisers
which would result in precipitate forming with barium.

Another factor which could have led the experiment receiving a much higher result than
expected would be the fact that even though some ions present in the fertiliser would not
form a precipitate with barium, they could have adhered to sulfate and mistakenly become
included in the calculations of gravimetric analysis. This could have also increased the
percentage of sulfate content that we are measuring.

Through this information, the experiment would be deemed as invalid and inaccurate as
sulfate would not be the only precipitate to form and so we would not be able to accurately
measure the sulfate content of the fertiliser

As this experiment was not done at least 3 times it would also not be reliable.

To improve this experiment, we would need to use fertilisers that would only contain sulfates
and nitrates only since all nitrates are soluble. This would cause only sulfates to form a
precipitate with barium and so we could find the sulfate content of the fertiliser with greater
accuracy.

Conclusion:
The hypothesis was deemed invalid as the sulfate content was inaccurately found to be
72.70% rather than the hypothesised 38% due to experimental errors.

References:
citeseerx.ist.psu.edu. (n.d.). Download Limit Exceeded. [online] Available at:
https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.106.9757&rep=rep1&type=pdf.

Dynamicscience.com.au. (2019). chemistry-Gravimetric analysis of sulfate in fertiliser.

[online] Available at:
http://www.dynamicscience.com.au/tester/solutions1/chemistry/gravimetric%20analysis/grav
mtrc1.html.

Hydrobuilder Learning Center. (2016). Sulfur For Plants: Deficiency, Toxicity, Sources, &
More. [online] Available at: https://hydrobuilder.com/learn/sulfur-s-nutrient-deficiencies/.
Stubbings, J. (2019). Sulfate in Lawn Fertiliser Gravimetric Analysis Tutorial. [online]
Ausetute.com.au. Available at: https://www.ausetute.com.au/lawnfood.html.

The Sulfate Content of a Fertiliser. (n.d.). [online] Available at:

https://www.tsfx.edu.au/resources/851.pdf.

The Sulphur Institute. (n.d.). Fertilizers Containing Sulphate. [online] Available at:
https://www.sulphurinstitute.org/about-sulphur/sulphur-the-fourth-major-plant-nutrient/sulphur
-fertilizer-types/fertilizers-containing-sulphate/.