List and briefly describe the various chemical properties used to differentiate soils
What will be an ideal response?
Soil colloids are the tiny particles of clay or organic material suspended in the soil solution. These carry a negative electrical charge and, therefore, attract positively charged ions in the soil. These positively charged ions, are often critical to plant growth. Without these negatively charged colloids, these positively charged ions would be leached away.
Colloid surfaces can exchange cations with the soil solution. The ability to do so is called cation-exchange capacity (CEC). This is a measure of soil fertility — the higher the CEC, the higher the fertility.
A soil solution may contain a significant amount of hydrogen ions, which stimulate acid formation. Soils rich in hydrogen ions are an acidic soil, while those high in base cations (such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium) are basic or alkaline soils.
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As shown in Figure 8.12, what has happened to the number of species on Earth as the human population has grown?
A. decreased B. matched it exactly C. increased slightly D. increased greatly
Shale gas extraction using hydraulic fracturing falls within which of the five themes?
A) location B) place C) human-Earth relationships D) movement E) regions
If a glacier does not have debris embedded in its base, it is not a very effective agent of abrasion
Indicate whether the statement is true or false
The two most common elements found in Earth's crust are ____
a. silicon and magnesium b. sodium and carbon c. silicon and oxygen d. silicon and aluminum