Exercise 6

CATION EXCHANGE

Cation exchange – a process in which positively charged ions in soil solution leave the solution and attach
themselves loosely to the solid phase, which has a net negative charge. At the same
time, cations on the solids enter the solution.

➢ Thus, soils hold WATER and CATIONS, two vital ingredients in plant growth

Exchangeable cations – cations loosely held on the surface of the clay minerals that can be replaced
easily by other cations.

Ex. NH4+, K+, Na+, H+, Ca2+, Mg2+, AI3+

➢ In cation exchange, each positive charge is balanced by a single negative charge

Ex. One AI3+ ion (3 electrons missing) can balance 3 of the extra electrons
(negative charge) on the clay.

Cation exchange is important because the exchangeable ions are:

1) available to plants, supplementing the small quantity in solution
2) retained in soils and not lost with leaching water

Cation exchange in soils is:

1) instantaneous – quick reaction
2) reversible - ⇌
3) stoichiometric – there is proportion of exchange

Some important properties that influence the exchange of cations

1. Small cations tend to be held more tightly and are replaced from the exchange complex less easily
than are large cations1
2. Highly charged cations tend to be held more tightly than are those that are less highly charged
Al3+ >Ca2+ >Mg2+ >K+ >Na+ >Li+ → ( lyotropic series)
(general order of preference of cations in exchange reactions)
3. Regardless of size or charge, cations that dominate or are present in large concentration in the soil
solution are favored in the exchange reaction.
_____________________
1 The hydrated radius determines the ion’s exchange properties

Selected Ions and Ion Characteristics

Ion Charge Hydrated Radius (nm) Atomic Weight Equivalent Weight
Ca +2 0.300 40 20
Mg +2 0.400 24 12
Na +1 0.215 23 23
K +1 0.155 39 39
H +1 0.455 1 1
O -2 - 16 8

Cation exchange capacity – the sum of adsorbed cations expressed in

m.e./100 g soil or cmolc/kg soil
– the total amount of exchangeable cations that can be held
by a given mass of soil

➢ The CEC of soils increases with increasing amount of clay and organic matter
➢ Equivalent or molc – the quantity of ions that supplies one mole of charge

Some Questions for Thought

1. How does cation exchange affect plant growth?

2. Would a soil high in clay but low in O.M. have a higher CEC than a soil low in clay and high in O.M.?
Why?