Neutralising soil and waste
Show on a big screenA farmer's plants grow badly. The soil may be too acidic.
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The idea
Too much fertiliser can turn soil acidic. Fertiliser adds nutrients to a field. Nutrients are the minerals that plants take from soil. An indicator, such as red rose extract, tests the soil.
Lime here is a white powder, or chuna. It is not the lime fruit. Lime can burn skin. Never touch it.
- A test shows acidic soil.
- Add lime. Lime is a base, so it cancels the acid.
- Acidic factory waste gets a base before it reaches a lake.
Acidic waste can harm the fish in a lake. So a factory neutralises the waste first. Release means letting the waste flow out of the factory.
For a basic soil, add organic matter, such as compost. Organic matter is rotted plant and animal material.
A neutral soil can still lack nutrients. Then the plants look sick.
Lime treats acidic soil. Acidic waste is neutralised before release.
Try the lab to finish this lesson.