Name: Albert Jade P.

Legaria Course/Year: 1st Year BS Civil Engineering

SOIL CHEMISTRY 1

Soil is a critical component of the natural world. It is equally significant to

plants, animals, rocks, landscapes, lochs, and rivers. It has an effect on plant
species distribution and offers habitat for a diverse array of creatures. The purpose
of this experiment is to determine the pH of various soil types.

The equipment’s that will use for this experiment are funnel, spatula, stirring
rod, test tube rack, beaker, and pH meter. The materials that will be using are
garden soil (50 g), roadside soil (50 g), riverside soil (50 g), sandy soil (50 g), and
clay soil (50 g), filter paper (5), and water. In order to do this experiment, there are
certain procedures that will be followed. First in soil solution, using the spatula,
transfer some riverside soil to the beaker containing water and dissolve it. Similarly,
repeat the procedure 1 for the other soil samples and label each beaker. Using the
stirring rod, stir the solution to mix it. Place a folded filter paper into the funnel and
place it into the test tube. Take garden soil solution and filter the solution through the
filter paper and collect the filtrate in the test tube. Repeat the procedure 4 and 5 for
the other remaining soil solutions. Label each test tube. And lastly, the soil solutions
are now ready for testing for pH. And for testing the pH of the soil, you must first
rinse the electrode tip in deionized water. Depress the dispenser button on the top of
the electrode until a click is heard (releases reference electrolyte at tip of electrode).
Wait until the readings become steady and record results. And lastly, if readings
become erratic, dispense more electrolytes.

Type of Soil pH Remark

Garden 6.5 Slight Acidic
Roadside 7.0 Alkaline
Riverside 8.0 Alkaline
Sandy 5.5 Acid Soil
Clay 6.5 Weakly Acid soil

As I observe in the data, the pH of soil may be determined using a range of

various instruments, or pH testers, which can immediately signal to a user the pH of
their soil. Soil ph test strips yield a numerical result showing the acidity or alkalinity of
soil.
The findings of a soil pH test strip are important because various plants thrive
in soils with varying pH ranges. Additionally, various species survive at varying pH
levels. Thus, soil pH may be a useful indication of the overall health and quality of
the soil. Typically, naturally occurring soil has a pH near to neutral. Slightly acidic or
basic soils exist naturally and are an entirely normal and healthy component of the
environment in which they occur. However, an abnormally high or low pH value is
typically indicative of an underlying problem. When the pH of the soil is too high or
too low, components such as soil metals dissolve into solution and drain into the
groundwater.
 SOIL CHEMISTRY 2

The soil moisture content indicates the amount of water in the soil. Moisture
may exist in the form of adsorbed moisture on interior surfaces or capillary
condensed water in microscopic holes. Liquid water becomes more crucial when
relative humidity increases, depending on the pore size. Soil water dissolves salts
and creates the soil solution, which serves as a medium for nutrient delivery to
developing plants. Soil water content has an effect on the quantity of moisture and
nutrients accessible to plants, as well as the aeration quality of the soil. The purpose
of this experiment is to assess the moisture content of various soil types.
The equipment that will be using in this experiment is bunsen burner,
evaporating dish, digital balance, iron ring, iron stand, wire gauze, stopwatch, and
crucible tong. The material that will be using also are garden soil (50 g), roadside soil
(50 g), riverside soil (50 g), sandy soil (50 g), and clay soil (50 g). To do this
experiment, there are certain procedures to be followed. First is to weight the empty
evaporating dish and record its weight. Put riverside soil in the evaporating dish and
weigh it using the weighing balance. Record the initial weight of the wet soil and
write in the table. Take the evaporating dish containing soil sample and place it in the
alcohol lamp. Keep the evaporating dish containing soil sample for 10 minutes in the
alcohol lamp. Record the final weight of the dry soil and write it in the table. Repeat
procedures 1 to 6 for the other soil samples. And lastly the difference in the initial
and final weights is the moisture content of the soil.
 As I conclude, soil water acts as a solvent and a transporter of nutrients
necessary for plant development. The yield of a crop is often influenced by the
availability of water rather than a scarcity of other essential elements. Soil water
functions as a nutrient in and of itself. Soil water influences the temperature of the
soil. Water is required for soil formation and weathering. Water is required for the
metabolic processes of microorganisms. Soil water is necessary for the chemical
and biological activity of the soil. It is a critical component of the developing plant.
Additionally, water is required for photosynthesis.