What is this compound?

Question

I am having yet another problem that I need help with. Thanks a lot

"A compound that would release ammonia gas when it is heated with aqueous sodium hydroxide and would give a precipitate with a 1:1 ion ratio when added to aqueous barium chloride. This chemical may be found in fertilizer such as Miracle Grow for Tomatoes.

The primary ingredients in the Miracle-Gro powder are as follows:

• 5.8% Ammoniacal Nitrogen
• 9.2% Urea Nitrogen
• 30% Available Phosphate
• 15% Soluble Potash
• 0.02% Boron
• 0.07% Copper
• 0.15% Iron
• 0.05% Manganese
• 0.005% Molybdenum
• 0.06% Zinc

Write the chemical formula and the name of the compound."

Answer 1

The compound must contain nitrogen, so either urea or the ammoniacal nitrogen. Since urea is a well known compound named on the label, and "ammoniacal nitrogen" is not a specific compound, it has to be the urea.

Urea is a compound with the formula:

(NH2)2C=O.

Ammoniacal nitrogen means an ammonium (NH4+) salt, probably combined with a phosphate anion for this label.

For some chemistry of urea, including treatment with aqueous NaOH and BaCL2, see:

http://www.books-about-california.com/Pages/Experimental_Organic_Chemistry/Ex_Organic_Chem_Chap_08.html


A caveat about chemistry answers here on Yahoo. Unless the answer has a link to a web site reference, and steps you through the answer, be very careful about what someone posts.

There appear to be a lot of people answering chemistry questions here, that have never had a course in chemistry.

Answer 2

Interesting question!

I guess this compound is Ammonium Carbonate (NH4)2CO3.

"A compound that would release ammonia gas when it is heated with aqueous sodium hydroxide" suggests it has inorganic nitrogen.

"would give a precipitate with a 1:1 ion ratio when added to aqueous barium chloride." suggests SO4[2-] or CO3[2-].

The Miracle-Gro powder has 5.8% inorganic nitrogen and 15% soluble potash and no sulfur content. So, I guess it is Ammonium Carbonate, a well-known soluble fertilizer.

Answer 3

Try ammonium potassium hydrogen phosphate or (NH4)K (HPO4)