Explain the chemical properties of nitrates Almost all inorganic nitrate salts are soluble in water at standard temperature and pressure (NOAA). Nitrates are widely used in very large quantities as fertilizers in agriculture because of their readiness to decompose and release nitrogen for plant growth and because of their ready solubility ensuring that nitrate ions can be absorbed by plant root hairs. (NOAA). Nitrate compounds have a wide range of uses which rely on their activity as oxidizing agents, the presence of freely available nitrogen, or their high solubility (NOAA). Expain how nitrate is produced in nature and in manmade means and how this gets into water systems (rivers, lakes). All aquatic organisms excrete wastes and aquatic
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Nitrates (NO3-) are an oxidized form of nitrogen and are formed by combining oxygen and nitrogen (Nitrates).. Although nitrates occur naturally in soil and water, an excess levels of nitrates can be considered to be a contaminant of ground and surface waters. Most sources of excess nitrates come from human activity. The source of excess nitrates can usually be traced to agricultural activities, human wastes, or industrial pollution (Nitrates). Rainwater can wash nitrates in the fertilizer into streams and rivers or the nitrates can seep into ground water. This can also occur with animal waste and manure (Nitrates). Explain how nitrates can affect water systems. In addition to animal waste, untreated human sewage can contribute to nitrate levels in surface and ground water. Leaking or poorly functioning septic systems are a source of such nitrates (Nitrates). Nitrates are highly soluble, meaning that they easily dissolve in water. For many people in rural areas, the primary source of drinking water is well water, which may be contaminated with nitrates (Nitrates). Nitrates can interfere with the ability of our red blood cells to carry oxygen. Infants are more at risk of nitrate poisoning than older children or …show more content…
The phosphate ion is a polyatomic ion with the empirical formula PO43− and a molar mass of 94.973 g/mol; it consists of one central phosphorus atom surrounded by four identical oxygen atoms in a tetrahedral arrangement (phosphate). It is a hypervalent molecule (the phosphorus atom has 10 electrons in its valence shell) (Phosphate). A phosphate salt forms when a positively charged ion attaches to the negatively charged oxygen atoms of the ion, forming an ionic compound (Phosphate). Expain how phosphate is produced in nature and in manmade means and how this gets into water systems (rives, lakes) In healthy lakes and streams, nutrients are needed for the growth of algae that form the base of a complex food web supporting the entire aquatic ecosystem. The most common nutrients in lakes and streams are nitrogen and phosphorus (Nutrients). Soil and rocks are the primary natural sources of phosphorus, usually in the form of phosphates (Nutrients). The U.S. Geological Surveyestimates that more than 7 million metric tons (nearly 16 billion pounds) of nitrogen and more than 2 million metric tons (more than 4 billion pounds) of phosphorus are applied to agricultural lands as manure each year (Nutrients). Explain how phospahte can affect water systems. Excess phosphates create water that's cloudy and low in oxygen. All plants need phosphates to grow, but phosphorous is normally present in surface water at a rate of only 0.02 parts
Nitrates (NO3-) are an oxidized form of nitrogen and are formed by combining oxygen and nitrogen (Nitrates).. Although nitrates occur naturally in soil and water, an excess levels of nitrates can be considered to be a contaminant of ground and surface waters. Most sources of excess nitrates come from human activity. The source of excess nitrates can usually be traced to agricultural activities, human wastes, or industrial pollution (Nitrates). Rainwater can wash nitrates in the fertilizer into streams and rivers or the nitrates can seep into ground water. This can also occur with animal waste and manure (Nitrates). Explain how nitrates can affect water systems. In addition to animal waste, untreated human sewage can contribute to nitrate levels in surface and ground water. Leaking or poorly functioning septic systems are a source of such nitrates (Nitrates). Nitrates are highly soluble, meaning that they easily dissolve in water. For many people in rural areas, the primary source of drinking water is well water, which may be contaminated with nitrates (Nitrates). Nitrates can interfere with the ability of our red blood cells to carry oxygen. Infants are more at risk of nitrate poisoning than older children or …show more content…
The phosphate ion is a polyatomic ion with the empirical formula PO43− and a molar mass of 94.973 g/mol; it consists of one central phosphorus atom surrounded by four identical oxygen atoms in a tetrahedral arrangement (phosphate). It is a hypervalent molecule (the phosphorus atom has 10 electrons in its valence shell) (Phosphate). A phosphate salt forms when a positively charged ion attaches to the negatively charged oxygen atoms of the ion, forming an ionic compound (Phosphate). Expain how phosphate is produced in nature and in manmade means and how this gets into water systems (rives, lakes) In healthy lakes and streams, nutrients are needed for the growth of algae that form the base of a complex food web supporting the entire aquatic ecosystem. The most common nutrients in lakes and streams are nitrogen and phosphorus (Nutrients). Soil and rocks are the primary natural sources of phosphorus, usually in the form of phosphates (Nutrients). The U.S. Geological Surveyestimates that more than 7 million metric tons (nearly 16 billion pounds) of nitrogen and more than 2 million metric tons (more than 4 billion pounds) of phosphorus are applied to agricultural lands as manure each year (Nutrients). Explain how phospahte can affect water systems. Excess phosphates create water that's cloudy and low in oxygen. All plants need phosphates to grow, but phosphorous is normally present in surface water at a rate of only 0.02 parts