NITRIC ACID (HNO₃)

Ammonia is oxidised to nitric acid in three steps:		4NH3  +  5O2		4NO  +  6H2O
		2NO  +  O2		2NO2
		4NO2  +  O2  +   2H2O		4HNO3

Nitric acid has many uses such as:

• Explosives (e.g. TNT)
• Polymers and pharaceuticals
• The production of fertilisers:

NH3  +  HNO3     NH4NO3

ammonium nitrate

This fertilizer is very soluble in water which makes it ideal for plants (nitrogen is essential to plants to make proteins).

NITRATE FERTILIZERS HARM THE ENVIRONMENT

The nitrates can easily drain into ponds, streams and rivers:

• They help water-based plants and algae to grow
• The plants grow rapidly to such an extent that they cover the water
• The plants below are screened from sunlight and die
• Bacteria feed on the dead plants
• The bacteria remove the oxygen from the water which kills the fish
• THE NATURAL HABITAT IS DESTROYED