Chemistry of the environment

10.2 – Fertilizers

Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are provided to plants in the form of reactive ions to help with
agriculture.

Plants need these ions to grow well, nitrogen is supplied by nitrate and ammonium salts for plants to
be able to synthesize chlorophyll. ( ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate )
Phosphorus is supplied in phosphate ions( potassium phosphate ) for DNA production and good
growth in plants
Potassium is needed to make the root systems stronger, add color and increase photosynthesis
process.

Displacement of ammonia:

Ammonia can be produced by a displacement reaction involving ammonium salts

Ammonium salts are warmed with a strong alkali providing ammonia gas, a salt and water.

How is ammonia manufactured?

The Haber process is used to produce nitrogen-based fertilizers. The raw materials used are nitrogen
and hydrogen which are obtained from the air and natural gas/methane/hydrocarbons respectively.
Purified gases are passed over a catalyst of iron at high temperature ( 450 C ) and high pressure
( 200atm)
Ammonia is produced and liquified/separated, the remaining nitrogen and hydrogen are recycled.
A perfect balance of pressure and temperature needs to be achieved for the perfect yield.

N2(g)+3H−2(g)→2NH3(g)
10.3 – Global Warming

Greenhouse gases : CO2 and methane, water vapor

Greenhouse gases maintain temperatures on Earth high enough to support life.

Explanation :
Electromagnetic radiation at most wavelengths from the sun passes through the earth’s
atmosphere.
The Earth absorbs some radiation and warms up but the rest of the head(radiation) escapes the
atmosphere as infrared radiation
Some of this IR radiation is absorbed by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere therefore warming up
the globe.

Global Warming = increase in average global temperature

Effects on global warming :

Extinction of species
Raising sea levels due to the melting of polar ice caps
Increased risk of skin cancer due to more dangerous UV rays

An increase of green house gases is mainly a cause of industrial processes such as :

1. Complete combustion of hydrocarbons
2. Respiration
3. Reactions between acids and carbonates
4. Thermal decomposition of a carbonate
5. Production and use of fossil fuels
6. Livestock farming
7. Decomposition of vegetation

Carbon cycle
1. CO2 is emitted from respiration and combustion
2. CO2 absorbed to make carbohydrates in photosynthesis
3. Animals eat these plants and the carbon consumed is released as CO2 during respiration
4. Animals and plants eventually die and decomposers feed on these dead organisms, carbon is
returned to atmosphere as CO2