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Minerals as starting materials
Potassium chloride, potassium sulfate and phosphate rock are obtained by mining. The potassium salts can supply potassium in fertilisers. Phosphate rock is largely insoluble, so it cannot be used directly in the required way: plant roots need dissolved nutrient ions. Acid treatment changes the rock into useful products. A chemical name and a nutrient name are different descriptions: potassium sulfate supplies potassium, while a phosphate supplies phosphorus.
