What happens when phosphate rock is treated with sulfuric acid in the production of soluble salts for fertilizers?

When phosphate rock is treated with sulfuric acid, it reacts to produce soluble salts, specifically calcium sulfate and phosphoric acid. These soluble salts can then be used as fertilizers to provide essential nutrients to plants.

A strong answer should directly address the approved learning objective to describe treatment of phosphate rock with sulfuric acid to produce soluble salts for fertilisers. (Chemistry only). This question belongs to Production and uses of NPK fertilisers within The Haber process and the use of NPK fertilisers, so the response should use that exact curriculum context rather than a generic statement. The answer is correct when it names the key idea, explains the link to chemistry only, and keeps the wording specific to AQA GCSE revision.