Grade 12 summary presentation for science: chapter 14: the chemical industry.

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14. The chemical industry
Chemistry
Grade 12

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Introduction
The growth of South Africa’s chemical industry was largely due to the mining industry, which
requires explosives for their operation. One of South Africa’s major chemical companies is
Sasol. Other important examples of chemical industries in the country are the chloralkali and
fertiliser industries.
Fertilisers and nutrients
The fertiliser industry is very important in providing fertilisers with the correct nutrients in the
correct quantities to ensure maximum growth for various plants and crops.
All plants need certain macronutrients (e.g. carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, potassium, nitrogen
and phosphorus) and micronutrients (e.g. iron, chlorine, copper and zinc) in order to survive.
Fertilisers provide these nutrients. In plants, essential nutrients are obtained from the
atmosphere or from the soil.
Animals also need similar nutrients, but they obtain most of these from plants or plant
products. They may also obtain them from other animals, which may have fed on plants
during their life.
Organic fertilisers are made from natural products, like manure or compost. Inorganic
fertilisers refer to industrially produced compounds.

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Fertilisers contd.
Fertilisers can be produced industrially using a number of chemical processes.

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