Resources

Fertilisers and sustainability | 16–18 years

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Source: © Royal Society of Chemistry

Investigate the rate of hydrolysis of urea and assess your learners’ practical skills, includes extension green chemistry questions on sustainable fertilisers

The ability to perform a chemistry practical safely is a key skill, assessed as part of 16–18 chemistry courses in the UK and Republic of Ireland. This activity gives learners an opportunity to practise these skills, in the context of fertilisers and the sustainability of their manufacture and use. Use UN sustainable development goal 2:  end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture to locate this investigation in a compelling context. 

The practical itself, rates of hydrolysis of urea, and the calculation and conclusion questions are aimed at learners in their second year of an A Level, or equivalent 16­–18 chemistry course. Additional questions on fertiliser sustainability that accompany the practical add context. These could also be used with GCSE or equivalent 14–16 learners.

This practical investigation into the rate of hydrolysis of urea is part of our Challenging plants: fertilisers practicals. The student worksheet and teacher notes support with assessment of practical skills and add context.

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