[Stroodle]

Hi,

I'd just like to know why fertiliser producers refer to "the percentage by mass of sulfur present as sulfate" in their fertilisers?

Thanks!

[typhoon2028]

the sulfur present exists as sulfate, not elemental sulfur

Another example would be on food packaging; "the sodium content" is really ionic sodium or sodium salt, because metallic sodium would not exist in food as it is highly reactive.