Chemical knowledge is deeply involved in fertilizers, pharmaceuticals, and detergents, which support agriculture, medicine, and cleanliness in daily life.
Basic Knowledge
Fertilizers: The elements necessary for plant growth are nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K), called the three fertilizer elements. The mass production of nitrogen fertilizer became possible through the Haber-Bosch process (N2 + 3H2 → 2NH3). Ammonium sulfate [(NH4)2SO4] and urea [CO(NH2)2] are representative nitrogen fertilizers.
Pharmaceuticals: Aspirin (an antipyretic analgesic and salicylic acid derivative) and penicillin (an antibiotic) are historic achievements of chemical synthesis and discovery. Today, various medicines, including synthetic drugs, antibody drugs, and vaccines, are being developed.
Detergents: They contain surfactants, which are compatible with both dirt and water (through hydrophobic and hydrophilic groups) and remove oily dirt by emulsifying it.
Three fertilizer elements (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Essential for plant growth)
Haber-Bosch process (synthesis of NH3 from N2 and H2. The basis of nitrogen fertilizer)
Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid. A representative antipyretic, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory drug)
Penicillin (an antibiotic discovered by Fleming. Effective against bacterial infections)
Surfactant (a molecule with hydrophobic and hydrophilic groups that acts at the interface between water and oil)
Emulsification (the phenomenon in which a surfactant finely disperses oil in water)
Further Study
The Haber-Bosch process (industrialized in 1913) fixes nitrogen from the air and synthesizes ammonia, dramatically increasing global food production. It is sometimes said that about half of the world's current population lives on food produced with fertilizer made using this technology.
Surfactants in detergents include soap (sodium salts of fatty acids) and synthetic detergents (such as sodium alkylbenzene sulfonate). Soap is weak in alkaline water and becomes less effective in hard water, but it biodegrades easily. Synthetic detergents can be used in hard water, although they once caused problems such as foaming in rivers.
- Three fertilizer elements = nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K)
- The Haber-Bosch process synthesizes ammonia and produces nitrogen fertilizer
- Aspirin = a representative antipyretic analgesic
- Penicillin = the first antibiotic discovered by Fleming
- Surfactants = have hydrophobic and hydrophilic groups and emulsify oily dirt
- Soap = sodium salts of fatty acids. Naturally derived and easily biodegradable
- Synthetic detergents can be used in hard water
Points to Note
① The three fertilizer elements are N (nitrogen), P (phosphorus), and K (potassium). Note that they do not include “calcium.” ② Check the coefficients in the Haber-Bosch reaction: N2 + 3H2 → 2NH3. ③ Aspirin is an antipyretic analgesic, not an antibiotic. Penicillin is an antibiotic. ④ The key to the function of surfactants is their structure, which has both a “hydrophobic group (oil-attracted)” and a “hydrophilic group (water-attracted).”
Practice
- Answer the three fertilizer elements using their element symbols.
- Write the chemical equation for the Haber-Bosch process.
- Explain why surfactants can remove oily dirt.