The nitrogen in sodium nitr ate and in ammonium sulfate is available to plants as fertilizer. Which is the more economical source of nitrogen, a fertilizer containing 30.0% sodium nitrate by weight and costing $9.00 per 100 lb or one containing 20.0% ammonium sulfate by weight and costing $8.10 per 100 lb?

Respuesta :

Answer:

The sodium nitrate is more economical

Explanation:

Hi, to compare this two options you need to determine the amount of nitrogen per 100 lb of both and then estimate its cost:

1) Sodium nitrate [tex]NaNO_3[/tex]

This fertilizer has 30 % by weight of sodium nitrate:

[tex] m=100 lb * 0.3= 30 lb=13.6 kg[/tex]

The molecular weight of sodium nitrate:

[tex]M=23+3*16+14=85 g/mol[/tex]

So, this salt has 14 g of N per 85 g:

[tex]m_N=13600g*\frac{14g N}{85 g}=2240 g N[/tex]

Cost per gram:

[tex]C=\frac{9}{2240g}=0.004[/tex]

2) Ammonium sulfate [tex]NH_4SO_4[/tex]

This fertilizer has 20 % by weight of ammonium sulfate:

[tex] m=100 lb * 0.2= 20 lb=9.07 kg[/tex]

The molecular weight of ammonium sulfate:

[tex]M=14+4+32+16*4=114 g/mol[/tex]

So, this salt has 14 g of N per 114 g:

[tex]m_N=9070g*\frac{14g N}{114 g}=1113.8g N[/tex]

Cost per gram:

[tex]C=\frac{8.1}{1113.8g}=0.007[/tex]

Fertilizer of sodium nitrate is economical than ammonium sulfate due to its higher percentage.

The fertilizer of sodium nitrate is more economical than fertilizer having ammonium sulfate because the percentage of nitrogen in sodium nitrate is higher than in ammonium sulfate. Due to higher percentage of nitrogen in sodium nitrate fulfills the requirement of nitrogen for plant in less application of fertilizer.

While on the other hand, more fertilizer of ammonium sulfate will be applied in order to fulfill the requirement of nitrogen for the plant so we can conclude that fertilizer of sodium nitrate is economical than ammonium sulfate due to its higher percentage.

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