A great question posted by a student earlier:
Q) Use your knowledge of the nature of acids, bases and salts to explain the following observations or practices.
“A farmer tells his workers to correct the pH of soil by using solid calcium hydroxide. They should add fertilizers such as ammonium nitrate(V) to improve the soil fertility only after a lapse of several days.”
Try it out!
This is the answer given by Jennifer, the student that posted the question, and i agree totally with her. Well Done Jennifer!
“Adding solid calcium hydroxide is to lime the soil so as to reduce the acidity of the soil caused by acid rain. Ammonium nitrate(V) can only be added after a few days and not immediately because ammonium nitrate, an alkali salt would react with calcium hydroxide, an alkali to produce ammonia gas, calcium nitrate and water. Hence, it would not improve the soil fertility.”
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