Question

Super phosphate consist(s) of:

• A. calcium sulphate
• B. calcium hydrogen phosphate
• C. calcium carbonate
• D. both $A$ and $B$

Answer 1

Answer: (D)

both $A$ and $B$

Single superphosphate (SSP) was the first commercial mineral fertilizer, and it led to the development of the modern plant nutrient industry. This material was once the most commonly used fertilizer, but other phosphorus (P) fertilizers have largely replaced SSP because of its relatively low P content.

The general chemical reaction involved in the production of SSP is

${Ca}_3{\left(P{O}_4\right)}_2+2H_{2}S{O}_4⟶Ca{\left(H_{2}P{O}_4\right)}_2+2CaS{O}_4$