2. Topic 14 Fertilisers

3. Aims State the different types of fertilisers Identify the main elements required for growth Investigate the chemical tests for the main ions present in fertilisers.

4. Fertilisers Increasing world population means that we need more efficient means of food production. Growing plants take nutrients from the soil. These nutrients include compounds of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium.

5. Fertilisers Fertilisers are substances which are added to the soil to replace the essential elements needed for plant growth. Different plants require fertilisers containing different proportions of these nutrient elements.(N, P and K) Fertilisers can be Natural or Artificial.

6. Fertilisers Natural fertilisers are made from plant/animal waste. Artificial fertilisers need to be soluble because plants take up nutrients through their roots.

7. Problems with artificial fertiliers They are washed into lakes and rivers by rainwater where they encourage bacteria and algae to grow. Bacteria and algae use up dissolved oxygen in the water. This results in the death of fish as they cannot get enough oxygen to live.

8. Experiment 1 Aim: To investigate the test for the ammonium ion? Method: Compound Soda lime Heat gently and test gas produced with damp pH paper

9. Results: CompoundTest with damp pH paper Ammonium chloride Potassium chloride Magnesium chloride Sodium sulphate Ammonium sulphate Potassium sulphate Conclusion: The test for the ammonium ion is...

10. Experiment 2 Aim: To investigate the test for the potassium ion? Method: Flame test wire

11. Results: CompoundColour in Bunsen flame Ammonium chloride Potassium chloride Magnesium chloride Sodium sulphate Ammonium sulphate Potassium sulphate Conclusion: The test for the potassium ion is...