phosphate rocks -- ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY?

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phosphate rocks -- ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY?

state why phosphate rock (Calcium phosphate) has limited use as a phosphorus fertilizer, how is the phosphate rock treated to allow plants to access the phorsphorus?

2007-03-15 21:03:28 · 1 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry

1 answers

Calcium phosphate is not very soluble in water. This limits its use as a fertilizer directly.

The Odda process involves acidifying phosphate rock with nitric acid to produce a mixture of phosphoric acid and calcium nitrate.

Ca3(PO4)2 + 6 HNO3 --> 2 H3PO4 + 3 Ca(NO3)2

2007-03-17 10:18:54 · answer #1 · answered by Richard 7 · 9⤊ 0⤋