Compare and contrast the different types of soil colloids, (note, not different

Question

Compare and contrast the different types of soil colloids, (note, not different clay types, more broadly the different categories of colloids), their surface charge characteristics, where theyre found, importance, and relevance to key soil properties such as surface area, cation exchange, and nutrient retention. Fill in the above table with your answers.

Crystanterlayer structure characteristics Silicate Clay Charge Properties sources Kaolinite Montmorillonite Smectite Group) Vermiculite Mica group (fine grain micas such as illite and glauconite) Chlorites

Explanation / Answer

Kaolinite: crystal structure - triclinic, interlayer characteristics- Kaolinite has Individual layers are held together in a crystal by O – H – O bonds between the octahedral sheet of one layer and the tetrahedral sheet of the adjacent layer. Montmorlite crystal structure is tetrahedral if silica in other hand octahedral for aluminum. Inter layer characteristics of montmorlite,- The individual crystals of montmorillonite clay are not tightly bound hence water can intervene, causing the clay to swell. The watercontent of montmorillonite is variable and it increases greatly in volume when it absorbs water. Chemically, it is hydrated sodium calcium aluminium magnesium silicate hydroxide (Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2·nH2O. Potassium, iron, and other cations are common substitutes, and theexact ratio of cations varies with source. It often occurs intermixed with chlorite.

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