Laboratory vs industrial manufacture of ammonium sulfate
Ammonium sulfate, (NH4)2SO4, is a The substance formed when the hydrogen ion in an acid is replaced by a metal ion. used as a A nutrient added to the soil to increase the soil fertility.. It is a source of Able to dissolve in solvent. For example, sugar is soluble in water because it dissolves to form sugar solution. nitrogen, so it can be used as a 鈥榥itrogenous鈥 fertiliser.
Salts can be made in Corrosive substance which has a pH lower than 7. Acidity is caused by a high concentration of hydrogen ions.-A substance that reacts with an acid to neutralise it and produce a salt. reactions in the laboratory. These must be scaled up for industrial production and the process has to be adapted for larger quantities.
Making ammonium sulfate in the lab
Ammonium sulfate can be made in the lab using dilute ammonia solution and dilute sulfuric acid:
ammonia + sulfuric acid \(\rightarrow\) ammonium sulfate
2NH3(aq) + H2SO4(aq) \(\rightarrow\) (NH4)2SO4(aq)
Both A substance that reacts together with another substance to form products during a chemical reaction. are soluble, so A quantitative procedure in which two solutions react in a known ratio, so if the concentration of one solution is known and the volumes of both are measured, the concentration of the other solution can be determined. must be used. The end-point of the titration indicates when the ammonia has been To be made neutral by removing any acidic or alkaline nature. by the sulfuric acid. It is very important that there is no sulfuric acid is left in the mixture when the salt solution is The process of producing crystals from a solution by evaporating the solvent..
The industrial production of ammonium sulfate
The industrial production of ammonium sulfate happens on a much larger scale than its production in the lab. A fertiliser factory often begins with the Basic material that goods are made from such as crops, metals, wood and animal products such as wool and leather. needed to make ammonia and sulfuric acid, rather than buying these two reactants from elsewhere. Several stages are needed.
The lab preparation of ammonium sulfate is a 'batch' process. Only a small amount of A substance formed in a chemical reaction. is made slowly at any one time. The apparatus is then cleaned and made ready for another batch. The industrial production of ammonium sulfate is a 'continuous' process. The product is made quickly all the time, as long as raw materials are provided.
Use of by-products
Ammonium sulfate can be produced in industry by other methods which use the An product from a side reaction that happens at the same time as the main reaction that is not needed. By-products reduce the yield of a process. of other processes. Using by-products, or waste from other processes, as the A versatile chemical utilised in the chemical industry to make a variety of different products. helps to reduce use of raw materials and improves The ability to keep something going over time without harming people or the environment..