SCIENCE 9

Performance Task 2.2/2.3

COMPOUNDS IN FERTILIZER: WHICH IS BETTER?
(Case Analysis)

Grade & Section: ______________ Group No. __________ Date: _______________ Score: __________

Leader: _________________________
Asst. Leader: _________________________
Members: _________________________
_________________________
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I. Introduction
Fertilizer is any substance or material added to soil that promotes plant growth. There are many fertilizer
varieties, and most contain nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K).[1]

Nitrogen is one of the elements, or nutrients, that all living things (microorganisms, plants, and animals) need to
grow. Although, there is a lot of nitrogen all around us (about 78% of the air we breathe), most of the nitrogen on Earth
is present as a colorless and odorless gas, called nitrogen gas (N2). Unfortunately, plants and animals cannot directly use
nitrogen gas. Plants get their nitrogen from the soil and nitrogen is the most common nutrient to limit plant growth. This
is why most fertilizers contain nitrogen compounds and why industrial fertilizers are essential in order to produce
enough crops to feed the human population.[1]

II. Objectives
a. Identify and describe ionic and covalent compounds based on their chemical formula and chemical names;
b. Differentiate organic from inorganic compounds (from its chemical formula, uses, properties);
c. Cite natural phenomena that use different physical properties of ionic and covalent compounds.
d. Differentiate molecular unit from formula unit and compute for the molecular mass;
e. Determine the percentage composition of each element in a given compound; and
f. Present an analyzed percentage composition of different brand of products and suggest/decide appropriate
percentage composition.

III. PeTa 2.2 – Compounds in Fertilizers and Their Properties

Directions: Fill in the table with information needed. (35 pts)

Category Compound
Chemical Name 1. ammonium 2. ammonium 3. magnesium 4. urea
chloride nitrate nitrate

A. Chemical Formula
B. Ionic or Covalent
Compound?
C. Organic or
Inorganic
Compound?
D. Uses other than
Fertilizer
 E. Number of Moles N= N= N= N=
of Each Element H= H= Mg = C=
Present in 1 Mole Cl = O= O= H=
of the Compound O=
F. Molar Mass of the N= N= N= N=
Elements Present H= H= Mg = C=
in the Compound Cl = O= O= H=
O=

G. Total Molar Mass N= N= N= N=

of the Elements H= H= Mg = C=
Present in the Cl = O= O= H=
Compound O=
H. Molar Mass of the
Compound
I. Percentage H= H= Mg = C=
Composition of Cl = O= O= H=
Elements Except O=
for Nitrogen

IV. PeTa 2.3 – Better Fertilizer

Directions. Analyze and solve the given problem.

Nitrogen is one of the three nutrients that botanist and soil scientists categorize as primary nutrients; phosphorus
and potassium are the other two. There are also secondary nutrients and so-called micronutrients that plants need in
smaller quantities. As a primary nutrient in fertilizers, plants require nitrogen in comparatively large amounts. In fact,
nitrogen is the nutrient, or fertilizer component, that plants demand the most out of all 16 essential plant nutrients.[2]

You have 500 grams for each kind of fertilizer. Fertilizer A has ammonium chloride, Fertilizer B has ammonium
nitrate, Fertilizer C has magnesium nitrate, and Fertilizer D has urea. In terms of the percentage composition of
nitrogen in the given compounds, which type of fertilizer is better to use to promote growth of plants?

Formula:

𝑛𝑜.𝑜𝑓 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑟𝑜𝑔𝑒𝑛 𝑖𝑛 𝑎 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑 𝑋 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑟𝑜𝑔𝑒𝑛

Percentage Composition by Mass of Nitrogen = 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑
x 100%

Fertilizer A - ammonium chloride Fertilizer B - ammonium nitrate

Solution: (5pts) Solution: (5 pts)

 Fertilizer C - magnesium nitrate Fertilizer D – urea

Solution: (5 pts) Solution: (5 pts)

Which of the 4 types of fertilizers is better to use to promote the growth of the plants? Explain in 2-3 sentences.

Scoring Criteria:
Concept 3 pts
Writing Mechanics 2 pts
Total 5 pts

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V. References

[1] Sedlacek, C. J., Giguere, A. T., & Pjevac, P. (2020, May 20). Is Too Much Fertilizer a Problem? Frontiers for Young
Minds. Retrieved January 23, 2022, from https://kids.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frym.2020.00063

[2] Miller, D. (2020, September 21). Importance of Nitrogen in Fertilizers. Home Guides | SF Gate. Retrieved January 25,
2022, from https://homeguides.sfgate.com/importance-nitrogen-fertilizers-25271.html