There are a total of 17 elements that are essential on the growth

of the plants. They are grouped in different ways such as their quantity
needed for normal plant growth (macroelements and microelements),
physiochemical
properties
(metal
and
nonmetal),
function
(constituents of organic molecules, electron carriers, osmoregulation,
energy transfer) and mobility (immobile and mobile).
Sulfur is one kind of the essential elements that is an immobile
macronutrient under the nonmetal group, a constituent of organic
molecule. This is essential as it is one of the components of some
amino acids such as methionine and cysteine that are incorporated in
proteins and some cofactors; an example is Coenzyme A (Taiz &
Zaiger, 2002; Resh, 2002).
To identify the presence of sulfur within a solution, it is reacted
with Barium Chloride (BaCl2). For the control setup, the Potassium
Sulfate (K2SO4) is reacted with BaCl2 proceeding to a double
displacement reaction. A double displacement occurs mostly in ionic
compounds where two species are displaced which sometimes result to
evolution of gas or formation of precipitate. Since both the BaCl 2 and
the K2SO4 are ionic compounds, the following reaction forwarded:
Reaction 1. BaCl2 reacted with K2SO4 forming white precipitate BaSO4.
The product barium sulfate (BaSO 4) is insoluble in water thus
forming a precipitate colored white. This visible reaction signifies a
positive result in test for Calcium content within a solution (Lew, 2009).
Another kind of essential elements used by plants is iron. Iron is
an immobile micronutrient element under the metal group and a
component of enzymes functioning on the transfer of electrons such as
cytochromes where it is reversibly oxidized from Fe 3+ to Fe2+. It has
been considered to be essential for plants growth as it is a necessity in
the synthesis of some of the chlorophyllprotein complexes in the
chloroplast. It is also a significant part of the ferredoxin and possibly
nitrite reductase (Taiz & Zaiger, 2002; Resh, 2002).
To identify the presence of Iron within a solution, potassium
thiocyanate (KCNS) is added to it. If the solution contains iron, a red
solution will result due to the displacement reaction between the
molecules as shown below.
Reaction 2. Dissociation of KCNS on water then reacting with Fe3+
forming Ferrothiocyanate having red complex

The product of the reaction Ferrothiocyanate causes the color

change of the solution to red as CNS - forms red complexes upon
reacting with iron. (Darpan, 2003)
Potassium occurs in the plants in its ionic form K+. This essential
element is a type of a mobile macronutrient element under the metal
group that is involved in the maintenance of the electrochemical
equilibrium of the plant. Potassium also activates enzymes involved in
respiration and photosynthesis and controls turgor pressure as it
contributes to the water-solute balance within the cell resulting for
example in the regulation the opening and closing of the stomata.
To identify potassium within a solution,

Kung, S.D. and Yang, S.F (2000). Discoveries in Plant Physiology

(Volume III). World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd. 36-37
Resh, H. (2002). Hydroponic Food Production (6th ed.).
Press Inc. 34-35

Newconcept,

Lew, K. (2009). Essential Chemistry: Chemical Reactions. Chelsea

House Publishers. 40
Darpan, P. (2003). Competition Science Vision, 6(61), 78.