-YEAR: 4

UNIT 2: Chemical reactions and Equations

GLOBAL CONTEXT: Scientific and Technical Innovation
EXPLORATION: Industrialization and engineering
Formative assessment Criteria A and D
Name: Mayana Agarwal Date: 12/15/22

SOI - Industrialization and engineering are the result of interaction leading to change under
different conditions.

LEARNING GOAL – To understand different types of chemical reactions.

LINE OF INQUIRY- How to identify different types of chemical reactions?

ATL Skill (s)

1a. In
1. Communication skills: Use appropriate visual representations of data based on
purpose and audience.
2. Critical thinking skills: Interpret data; analyze complex concepts into their constituent
parts and synthesize them to create new understanding.

State: Give a specific name, value or other brief answer without explanation or calculation.
Suggest: Propose a solution, hypothesis or other possible answer.
Write down: Obtain the answer(s), usually by extracting information. Little or no calculation is
required. Working does not need to be shown.
Analyse: Break down in order to bring out the essential elements or structure. (To identify
parts and relationships, and to interpret information to reach conclusions.)
Identify: Provide an answer from a number of possibilities. Recognize and state briefly a
distinguishing fact or feature.
Explain: Give a detailed account including reasons and causes.

Self reflection:

Teacher’s comments:

the Haber process, nitrogen and hydrogen react together. The reaction is reversible. In a chemical equation, the
symbol ⇌ is used instead of an ordinary arrow if the reaction is reversible:

State what is meant by the term ‘reversible reaction.’ (Ai)

A reversible reaction is when the reactants can turn into products and the products can turn back into reactants.
It is when there is a possibility of a forward and a backward reaction.

PSG/MYP/YEAR-4 /CHEMISTRY/UNIT2/FA/GS/VC 1
 b. In Contact process, sulphur dioxide and oxygen react together to form sulphur trioxide.

2SO2 + O2 ⇌ 2SO3

i) The forward reaction is exothermic and the backward reaction is endothermic.

Suggest the effect of increasing the temperature on the position of equilibrium and the yield of sulphur trioxide.
Justify your answer.
(Aii)

The increase of temperature on the position of the equilibrium for the exothermic reaction (forward reaction)
would be that the equilibrium would shift to it’s left (backward reaction), whereas in an endothermic reaction
(backward reaction) the equilibrium will shift to it’s right to maintain the balance.

Explain the impact of increasing pressure in this process on the position of equilibrium and the yield of sulphur
trioxide. (Aii)

The increase of pressure in this process would result in the equilibrium shifting to it’s right (forward reaction)
because it tends to move to the lesser number of molecules and the product will have lesser molecules than the
reactant.

Q2. Analyse the two equations given below: (Aiii)

Identify the type of reactions shown in both these equations. Justify

MgO (s) + H2SO4 (aq) MgSO 4 (aq) + H2O (l)

Pb(NO 3)2 (aq) + 2KI (aq) PbI 2 (s) + 2KNO3 (aq)

Both the reactions are a double displacement reaction. In the first one, Mg is getting mixed with SO and H with O
that was previously with the other pairs. Similarly, in the second equation, Pb is getting mixed with l and K with
NO. This shows that AB + CD = AD + BC, which proves that both equations are a double displacement reaction

Criterion A: Knowing and understanding

 Level Descriptors to match the task

7-8 The student is able to:

i. State the scientific knowledge in Q1a. (A ii)
ii. explain scientific knowledge in Q1b. (A ii)
iii. analyse and evaluate information to make scientifically supported judgments in Q2 (Aiii)

PSG/MYP/YEAR-4 /CHEMISTRY/UNIT2/FA/GS/VC 2
 Criterion D: Reflecting on the impacts of science

It was realised that feeding a growing population would be a problem—and that cheap and easy nitrate would be
part of the solution. So the “fixation” of nitrogen—the ability pull it from the air and transform it into something that
plants could use—became, well, a fixation. In 1909, a German chemist named Fritz Haber developed a high-
temperature, energy-intensive process to synthesize plant-available nitrate from air. And so agriculture’s millennia-
old nitrogen-cycling problem was solved. Today’s industrial-scale farms would not be possible without it.

Source 1: https://www.motherjones.com/food/2013/04/history-nitrogen-fertilizer-ammonium-nitrate/

Chemical fertilizers have become critically important to replace soil nutrients. The direct benefit is increased crop
production. Fertilizer use has the benefit of improving various aspects of soil organic matter, soil quality and soil
health.

Using commercial fertilizers “Salt effect” occurs when fertilizer is located with or near a germinating seed resulting in
injury or death of the seedling. Over application of fertilizer can result in reduced crop yields or quality. Higher rates
of fertilizer can lengthen the time for a crop to mature.

Anhydrous ammonia or urea is called a “soil killer” by some. Immediately after application, higher concentrations of
ammonia inhibit or kill soil microbes within the fertilizer band. It is noticed that high rates of anhydrous ammonia or
urea had long-term effects on soil pH. Soil acidification, which is the lowering of soil pH, gradually occurs over many
years of fertilizer use.

As soils gradually become more acidic, plants can have symptoms of aluminum (Al), hydrogen (H),
and/or manganese (Mn) toxicity. Soil pH less than 5.5 will inhibit survival and function of Nitrogen fixing rhizobium
bacteria that live in association with legume crop roots. Over the next 20 years, with continued fertilizer use, soil
acidification may become a major soil degradation concern.

Water and air pollution from commercial fertilizer use has received a lot of media coverage in recent years. Nitrate
nitrogen (NO3-N), the form of N most plants take up, is very mobile in soil and can leach under excess moisture
conditions into groundwater, causing contamination. A concentration level of 10 ppm of nitrate is considered toxic
to humans and livestock.

Nutrients can be transported in runoff water into surface water bodies causing water pollution. Phosphorus in water
causes cyanobacteria bloom producing a range of toxins.

Wet soil conditions lead to denitrification – the process where microbes convert soil nitrate- N to nitrous oxide (N2O)
– a very detrimental greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. One molecule of nitrous oxide has the same
negative effect as about 300 molecules of carbon dioxide.

Thus we see chemical/synthetic fertilizers haver their own limitations. Alternatively, farmers also use Organic
fertilizer, which is usually made from plant or animal waste – think manure or compost. Because of the organic
matter present in organic fertilizer, soil structure is improved and as a result the soil’s ability to hold onto water and
nutrients increases. It also helps microbes thrive. These microbes make nutrients available for plants in a naturally
occurring biological process. Organic fertilizers do not run off easily and are associated with soil structure and thus
do not lead to water pollution.

PSG/MYP/YEAR-4 /CHEMISTRY/UNIT2/FA/GS/VC 3
 Although organic fertilizer can be more costly than synthetic,. Because of the reductions, organic fertilizer can be
cost neutral and sometimes a cost savings. Plant damage to leaves and roots is less likely with organic fertilizers.

The level of nutrients present in organic fertilizer is often low. While you can produce your own compost, it’s a messy
and complicated process that often leads to an inconsistent product and end-result.

Source 2: https://www.holganix.com

Qa. Identify the problem as to what was the need of industrial fixation of nitrogen . Explain the ways in which
science is applied and used to address this problem. (D i)

There was an urgent need of industrial fixation of nitrogen as nitrate nitrogen, is very mobile in soil and can leach
under excess moisture conditions into groundwater, causing contamination. A concentration level of 10 ppm of
nitrate is considered toxic to humans and livestock. Nitrogen in plants also produces a very detrimental
greenhouse gas that contributes heavily to climate change. One molecule of nitrous oxide has the same negative
effect as about 300 molecules of carbon dioxide which can be very harmful for the biodiversity. Irrespective,
science came up with an alternate for nitrogen to address the problem. Invention of organic fertilizers, the usage
of this improves soil structure and as a result the soil’s ability to hold onto water and nutrients increases. It also
helps microbes thrive. These microbes make nutrients available for plants in a naturally occurring biological
process. Organic fertilizers do not run off easily and are associated with soil structure and thus does not lead to
water pollution. Lastly, plant damages to leaves and roots are less likely with organic fertilizers.

Qb. Discuss and evaluate the implications of using chemical fertilizers over organic fertilizers?

In your answer you should include advantages and disadvantages of chemical fertilizers and organic fertilizers, in

terms of:

 Economic and social impacts

 Environmental impacts
 Sustainability of methods
 Concluding appraisal

Chemical fertilizers and organic fertilizers both has its own advantages and disadvantages in terms of
economically, socially, environmentally, and sustainably. Starting with, the advantage of chemical fertilizers
environmentally. Chemical fertilizers have negative impacts on the environment such as, injury or death of the
seedling, reduced crop yields or quality, lowering of soil pH, gradually occurs over many years of fertilizer use,
soils gradually become more acidic etc. Furthermore, having all these problems with crop production because of
negative impacts on soil and crops would lead to less production of crops, which would be a conflict as the
resources would then not be enough to cater the need of the population, which would also worsen their
international relations, further lowering their national income and depreciating quality of life. Along with that,

PSG/MYP/YEAR-4 /CHEMISTRY/UNIT2/FA/GS/VC 4
rotting and damaging of crops and resources might lead to people consuming food that is bad for their health as
the shopkeepers would receive bad quality crops and would sell the same. The usage of chemical fertilizers is not
sustainable because of the reasons mentioned above.

Moving on, the evaluation of usage of organic fertilizers. Organic fertilizers are made using biodegradable
materials, so it is not harmful to the environment. Organic fertilizers result in improved soil structure and further,
the soil’s ability to hold onto water and nutrients increases. It also helps microbes thrive. These microbes make
nutrients available for plants in a naturally occurring biological process. Organic fertilizers do not run off easily and
are associated with soil structure and thus do not lead to water pollution. It can also reduce the need for
pesticides and the overall nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium requirements. Although it seems to be a good
alternative, organic fertilizers are comparatively more expensive than chemical fertilizer, not all the farmers would
be making use of this fertilizer because of the expensiveness. This brings in affordability issues socially. Otherwise,
organic farming is a great contribution to economy as it positively impacts GDP growth, and export earnings. This
leads to improved international relations and betterment in the country by providing people with better quality of
life because of increased national income. It also promotes sustainable development as it significantly contributes
to the agricultural industry as well.

To conclude, organic fertilizers seem like a better option instead of utilising chemical fertilizers as it has more
advantages, is more environment friendly and promotes sustainable development

Criterion D: Reflecting on the impacts of science

Achievement Task specific clarifications

level

The student is able to:

7-8 i. explain the ways in which science is applied and used to address specific problem in
Qa.
ii. discuss and evaluate the economic, social and environmental implications of using
science and its application to solve a specific problem in Qb.
iii. consistently apply scientific language to communicate understanding clearly and
precisely in Qb.

PSG/MYP/YEAR-4 /CHEMISTRY/UNIT2/FA/GS/VC 5
 

PSG/MYP/YEAR-4 /CHEMISTRY/UNIT2/FA/GS/VC 6