jjc
Harmless
Posts: 1
Registered: 29-1-2007
Member Is Offline
Mood: No Mood
|
|
leaching of ammonium nitrate fertiliser
i would like to ask what is the equation for leaching of NH4NO3 fertiliser into streams. one mole of NH4NO3 gives 2 moles of NH3. one way i thought of
was since NH4NO3 has 2 N atoms, so there will be 2 NH3. but i would like to know the full equation of what's going on. in alkaline soil, NH4+ will be
converted into NH3. is there any relation here to leaching?
|
|
|
The_Davster
A pnictogen
Posts: 2861
Registered: 18-11-2003
Member Is Offline
Mood: .
|
|
Leaching is not a chemical process. It is simply ammonium nitrate dissolving in water and being carried elsewhere by water flow where it can cause
problems.
|
|
|
Levi
Hazard to Others
Posts: 196
Registered: 24-1-2007
Member Is Offline
Mood: No Mood
|
|
It may be worth noting that even though there are two nitrogen atoms, they are in different oxidation states. The NH<sub>4</sub>+ ion
contains the -3 state whereas the NO<sub>3</sub>- ion contains the +5 state. In order for 2 moles of NH<sub>3</sub> to be
removed as you suggested, the +5 state would need to be reduced all the way to -3 which means there would have to be a redox reaction occuring and not
simply dissolving in water.
Chemcrime does not entail death. Chemcrime is death.
|
|
|
![[*]](images/xpblue/default_icon.gif){kind=icon}
