Phosphoric acid

High school (ages 12+)
Science & Technology

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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/phosphoric-acid

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 formula?H₃PO₄
2. What is the primary production method?Wet process reacting phosphate rock with sulfuric acid
3. What is phosphoric acid and why is it important for plants?Phosphoric acid is a mineral acid that gives plants the phosphorus they need to grow. Phosphorus helps plants make food, store energy, and build their DNA.
4. How is phosphoric acid made for fertilizers?In the wet process, phosphate rock reacts with sulfuric acid to produce a less pure form called green acid. This green acid is then turned into fertilizer salts that plants can absorb.

Macronutrient: A chemical element required in large amounts for plant growth, such as phosphorus.
Acidulant: A substance added to food or drink to make it taste tart or sour.
ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate): The primary molecule that stores and releases energy for cellular activities.
Phosphogypsum: A byproduct of phosphoric acid production from phosphate rock, often posing disposal challenges.