What products are generated when phosphate rock is treated with nitric acid?

When phosphate rock is treated with nitric acid, it primarily reacts to produce phosphoric acid and calcium nitrate. Phosphate rock mainly consists of calcium phosphate, and the nitric acid acts to convert the calcium phosphate into soluble forms.

The overall reaction can be simplified as follows:

1. The nitric acid reacts with the phosphate rock (calcium phosphate) to produce phosphoric acid.
2. Calcium from the calcium phosphate also reacts with the nitric acid to form calcium nitrate.

Phosphoric acid is important in agriculture as it serves as a key nutrient for plants, while calcium nitrate serves as a source of both calcium and nitrogen, which are vital for plant growth. This combination makes the products particularly suitable for use in fertilizers.

Understanding this reaction is significant because it highlights the processes involved in soil enrichment and nutrient supply in agricultural practices. The other options do not accurately reflect the products formed from this specific reaction involving phosphate rock and nitric acid.