When phosphate rock is treated with phosphoric acid, what is produced?

When phosphate rock is treated with phosphoric acid, the reaction primarily produces triple superphosphate. This process involves the reaction of phosphate rock, which is mainly composed of calcium phosphate, with phosphoric acid to create a more soluble form of phosphate, thereby enhancing its availability as a fertilizer.

Triple superphosphate (TSP) is a highly concentrated fertilizer that contains a significant amount of phosphorus, which is essential for plant growth. The treatment with phosphoric acid converts the less soluble compounds present in phosphate rock into more soluble forms, making phosphorus readily available for plant uptake.

The other substances listed are produced through different chemical processes or from different raw materials. Ammonium sulfate, for example, is typically produced by reacting ammonia with sulfuric acid. Single superphosphate is made by treating phosphate rock with sulfuric acid, and calcium nitrate can be created from the reaction of nitric acid with calcium carbonate. These differences in production methods explain why triple superphosphate is specifically the product of the reaction between phosphate rock and phosphoric acid.