How to Test if Fertilizer Has Nitrates in it

In this video we show you how to test if a fertilizer has nitrates rather than urea or ammonia as its nitrogen source.

The idea is quit simple, in a strongly acidic solution the nitrates will behave like nitric acid and dissolve copper metal releasing nitrogen dioxide gas. Looking for this gas is a strong indication for the presence of nitrates.

WARNING: these reactions produce toxic nitrogen dioxide gas, this must be performed outside or in a fume hood.

To perform the test, simply mix some of your fertilizer with water to dissolve the nitrates and then mix it with hydrochloric acid. Then add in some copper metal.

The reaction is very slow to start up unless you heat it. A nerdy way of heating it on the spot without using a heater is to add a small ball of aluminum metal, don't use too much or it will go out of control. Stir the mixture as the aluminum dissolves to distribute the heat evenly.

After the mixture is heated, place a glass container over the mixture to keep the gases in. If nitrogen dioxide is forming the distinctive brown nitrogen dioxide will fill the container.

And that's how you can tell if there are nitrates in your fertilizer.

If you want to test for ammonia (in case you have ammonium nitrate) just mix some fertilizer with half as much sodium hydroxide and add a little water to cover it. If it starts bubbling and releasing ammonia gas then it contains ammonia.

For more information on the chemistry visit the web page at: http://sites.google.com/site/nurdrage/chemistry-experiments/how-to-test-if-fe...

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• Potassium
• Sodium
• ammonium
• nitrate
• saltpeter
• science
• diy
• test

[NurdRage]

@pokerstud001 neither do computers, but you seem to use one just fine.

[NurdRage]

@pokerstud001 home depot sells it under the name "muriatic acid"... in fact, almost all hardware stores (and some supermarkets) sell hydrochloric acid, mostly as a strong cleaner. Just look for hydrochloric acid or "muratic acid"

[pyrotechnics100]

hey!!!!, why is this video unlisted???

[chickenpuffs1311]

@philpay95 i think its a voice modulator, of course he has a good reason to use one becouse people these days cant learn about and/or teach physics and chemistry anymore without the risk of getting arrested.

[NurdRage]

@chockn Unfortunately I am not over there and as such i can't get those chemicals. It's up to you film it. The cost it would be to me to get those chemicals (i'd have to buy from a chemical supplier which is VERY expensive) is probably lower than your cost to get it from a pharmacy for "a couple coins". You don't need an HD camera to make educational videos.

[chockn]

@NurdRage over here you can get pretty much all the needed chemicals in a pharmacy. i asked you to film those two small reactions because you obviously have an HD cam :)

[NurdRage]

@chockn Hydrochloric acid is available in hardware stores, sometimes it's called muriatic acid.

Wait a minute, if you can get all your chemicals in a pharmacy (something which most people cannot do as pharmacies have become reluctant to sell chemicals to individuals with the recent terrorist-craze) Then being out of the lab this summer shouldn't be an issue. You can still film your reaction at home (or outside) and post your video.

[chockn]

@NurdRage in terms of cost they are definetly cheaper. and iron2sulfate is easy to make. sulfuric acid and some ironpowder and there you go.

for the other tests the chemicals are probably dirt cheap to get aswell. i could get them in a pharmacy over here for a couple coins.

hydrochloric acid is not available over here in supermarkets. so that makes a big difference for the way i think about certain things i see over on youtube. you are from the us or?

[NurdRage]

@chockn That is your easier test? I thought you had something that was easier and could be done at home. That test requires chemicals not as readily available as the ones in the video (hydrochloric acid, copper, aluminum and sodium hydroxide, all available at hardware stores and supermarkets)

Hardly "easier" if it requires lab chemicals rather than domestically available ones.

Might as well get an aquarium test kit.

[chockn]

@NurdRage would you mind making those side by side? im out of the lab for the summer.

1)take your solution(fertilizer and a litle water) in a test tube. add iron(2)sulfate and add h2so4

2)take your solution. 1drop of 1-Naphthylamine, 1drop of Sulfanilic acid, 1drop of your test solution. if it reacts now its nitrite. if it doesnt, add a very tiny bit of zink and a drop of acetic acid. if it turns red/pinkish you have nitrate.

[NurdRage]

@chockn I agree, there are lots of easier ways. Aquarium shops sell nitrate test kits directly. By all means post a video of whatever process you can think of. There isn't enough chemistry on youtube.

[chockn]

thats not realy how you test for nitrates -.- there are 2 easier tests that come to mind when i want to test for nitrates.