📌 Instructions: Attempt each question before revealing the mark scheme. Use the Section filter to focus your revision. Press "Examiner Tip" to reveal common mistakes.
🔬 Section A: The ElementsFoundation
[3 marks]
Q1 of 15
Scenario: A bag of fertiliser at a garden centre is labelled 'NPK 15-10-20'. A student wonders what N, P, and K actually stand for.
What do the letters N, P, and K stand for in NPK fertilisers? Give the full element name for each letter.
🔬 Section A: The ElementsFoundation
[1 mark]
Q2 of 15
Scenario: A chemistry teacher holds up a Periodic Table and points to element number 19.
Which element in NPK fertilisers has the chemical symbol K and atomic number 19?
A. Krypton
B. Potassium
C. Phosphorus
D. Nitrogen
🔬 Section A: The ElementsFoundation
[1 mark]
Q3 of 15
Scenario: A student is studying the Periodic Table and notices nitrogen is in Group V (Group 15).
State the chemical symbol for nitrogen, as used in NPK fertilisers.
🔬 Section A: The ElementsFoundation
[2 marks]
Q4 of 15
Scenario: A fertiliser company is designing a new product. They must choose which elements to include.
State the symbols and names of the THREE elements found in all NPK fertilisers.
🔬 Section A: The ElementsFoundation
[2 marks]
Q5 of 15
Scenario: A student is given three unlabelled fertiliser samples. Sample 1 contains only potassium compounds. Sample 2 contains only nitrogen compounds. Sample 3 contains all three NPK elements.
(a) Which sample is a complete NPK fertiliser? [1]
(b) Which symbol represents potassium in the NPK label? [1]
🌱 Section B: The PurposeFoundation
[2 marks]
Q6 of 15
Scenario: A farmer notices his crops are growing slowly and producing poor yields. He consults an agronomist who recommends applying an NPK fertiliser to the soil.
State the overall purpose of using NPK fertilisers on crops.
🌱 Section B: The PurposeCore + Supplement
[3 marks]
Q7 of 15
Scenario: The table below shows the specific role of each NPK element in plant biology.
Complete the table by stating ONE specific role for each element in plant growth.
N (Nitrogen): ___
P (Phosphorus): ___
K (Potassium): ___
🌱 Section B: The PurposeCore
[2 marks]
Q8 of 15
Scenario: A scientist compares two identical fields: Field A received NPK fertiliser; Field B received nothing. After one growing season, Field A produced 40% more crop.
Explain why crops in Field A had a higher yield. Your answer must refer to the elements supplied by the fertiliser.
🌱 Section B: The PurposeFoundation
[1 mark]
Q9 of 15
Scenario: A student writes: 'NPK fertilisers give plants their food for energy.'
Is the student's statement correct? Select the best answer.
A. Yes — plants absorb food from the soil
B. No — plants make their own food by photosynthesis; fertilisers supply mineral elements
C. Yes — NPK provides glucose directly
D. No — plants do not need nutrients from soil
🌱 Section B: The PurposeCore
[2 marks]
Q10 of 15
Scenario: Modern intensive farming relies heavily on NPK fertilisers to maintain soil fertility after repeated harvesting removes nutrients.
Explain why repeated crop harvesting depletes soil nutrients and how NPK fertilisers solve this problem.
🧪 Section C: Identifying NeedCore
[2 marks]
Q11 of 15
Scenario: A farmer tests her soil. The results show: Nitrogen — Very Low; Phosphorus — Adequate; Potassium — Adequate.
The farmer's soil is depleted of nitrogen. Suggest ONE specific salt she could use as a nitrogen fertiliser to replenish the soil.
🧪 Section C: Identifying NeedSupplement
[3 marks]
Q12 of 15
Scenario: A soil analysis report gives these findings for three different farm plots:
• Plot X: Nitrogen LOW, Phosphorus LOW, Potassium adequate
• Plot Y: All three elements critically low
• Plot Z: Only Potassium low
For each plot, recommend an appropriate fertiliser treatment. Justify your recommendation.
🧪 Section C: Identifying NeedCore + Supplement
[2 marks]
Q13 of 15
Scenario: A student suggests that farmers could use atmospheric nitrogen directly as a free source of N for their crops.
Explain why plants cannot use nitrogen gas (N₂) directly from the atmosphere, and state what form of nitrogen plants can absorb.
🧪 Section C: Identifying NeedSupplement
[3 marks]
Q14 of 15
Scenario: A student is given this data about two nitrogen-containing fertilisers:
Fertiliser A: Ammonium nitrate (NH₄NO₃), Mr = 80
Fertiliser B: Ammonium sulfate ((NH₄)₂SO₄), Mr = 132
(a) Calculate the percentage by mass of nitrogen in ammonium nitrate (NH₄NO₃). [Ar: N=14, H=1, O=16] [2]
(b) State ONE reason why a farmer might prefer to use ammonium nitrate over ammonium sulfate. [1]
🧪 Section C: Identifying NeedSupplement
[4 marks]
Q15 of 15
Scenario: A government report warns that excessive use of NPK fertilisers in the UK is causing serious damage to local rivers and lakes.
Explain how the overuse of NPK fertilisers can damage aquatic ecosystems. Your answer should include the term 'eutrophication'. [4 marks]