Ash

High school (ages 12+)
Environment & Earth

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/ash

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the chemical definition?The non-gaseous, non-aqueous residue remaining after complete combustion
2. Where does ash come from?Ash forms when wood, coal, or other things burn in air. The heat turns the stuff into smoke and leaves the solid ash behind.
3. Why is ash good for plants?Ash contains nutrients like potassium and calcium that plants need. Adding a little ash can make soil less acidic and help plants grow.

Combustion: A rapid chemical reaction between a substance and an oxidant, usually oxygen, producing heat and light.
Alkalinity: A measure of the capacity of water or soil to neutralize acid; ash's high pH makes it alkaline.
Potash: A colloquial term for various potassium salts, historically derived from ashes, crucial for industrial and agricultural applications.
Tephra: Fragmental material ejected from a volcano, including ash, lapilli, and volcanic bombs.