Mariel Alfiler

BSAg-4B

Exercise No.
Chemical Properties of Soil
Cation Exchange

Introduction

Cations such as 4NH4+, K+, Na+, H+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Al3+ are constantly being absorbed and
exchanged between the soil colloids and the surrounding soil solution and roots. The sum of
the adsorbed cations expressed in me/100g soil is termed as cation exchange capacity
((CEC). Cation exchange is instantaneous, reversible and stoichiometric, i.e., one
milliequivalent weight of a cation is replaced by one milliequivalent weight of another cation.

The unit milliequivalent (me) as expression of CEC of the soil is the number of cations
held per 100 grams of soil. The me of each cation is thus computed to get the total amount of
cations per 100 grams of soil, the equivalent weight of an element or a cation is the ratio of its
atomic weight to its valence. Expressing it in a more convenient unit of milliequivalent, 1000 is
included in the denominator. Hence, the formula for one milliequivalent weight of an element
is:
g/me = Atomic weight/valence x 1000

The CEC of soil increases with increasing amount of clay and organic matter.

Objectives

Understand the cation exchange concept and compute for some CEC-related problems.

Exercise

1. Fill out the table below:

Catio Atomic Valenc Equivalent Weight of 1 me

n weight e weight, g
Ca++ 40 2 20 0.020
H+ 1 1 1 0.001
Na+ 23 1 23 0.023
K+ 39 1 39 0.039
NH4+ 18 1 18 0.018
Mg++ 24 2 12 0.012
Al+++ 27 3 9 0.009

a. How many grams of K+ would be needed to replace 1 gram of H+?

0.039 gm K+ = XgK+
0.001 gm H+ 1gH+
XgK+ = 0.039 (1g)
0.001
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BSAg-4B

X = 39g of K+

b. How many grams of H+ would be needed to replace 1 gram of Ca++?

0.001 gm H+ = XgH+
0.020 gm Ca++ 1gCa++
XgH+ = 0.001 (1g)
0.020
X = 0.05g of H+

2. Solve the following problems:

a. Calculate the number of me of cationic nutrients that will be present in 0.075 g

each of (1) calcium, (2) magnesium, (3) ammonium, and (4) sodium.

Calcium
0.020 gm = 0.075 g
me Xme
Xme = 0.075 g
0.020 g
Xme = 3.75 me

Magnesium
0.012 gm = 0.075 g
me Xme
Xme = 0.075 g
0.012 g
Xme = 6.25 me

Ammonium
0.018 gm = 0.075 g
me Xme
Xme = 0.075 g
0.018 g
Xme = 4.17 me

Sodium
0.023 gm = 0.075 g
me Xme
Xme = 0.075 g
0.023 g
Xme = 3.26 me

b. Calculate the weight (mg) of cationic nutrients if you have 6 me of (1) calcium, (2)
magnesium, (3) potassium, (4) sodium, and (5) ammonium.

Calcium
0.020 gm = Xgm
me 6me
X = 0.020 (6 me)
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BSAg-4B

1 me
X = 0.12 g X 1000 mg
1g
X = 120 mg

Magnesium
0.012 gm = Xgm
me 6me
X = 0.012 (6 me)
1 me
X = 0.072 g X 1000 mg
1g
X = 72 mg

Potassium
0.039 gm = Xgm
me 6me
X = 0.039 (6 me)
1 me
X = 0.234 g X 1000 mg
1g
X = 234 mg

Magnesium
0.012 gm = Xgm
me 6me
X = 0.012 (6 me)
1 me
X = 0.072 g X 1000 mg
1g
X = 72 mg

Ammonium
0.018 gm = Xgm
me 6me
X = 0.018 (6 me)
1 me
X = 0.108 g X 1000 mg
1g
X = 108 mg

c. Calculate the cation exchange capacity (sum of exchangeable cations, in me/100 g

soil) of a soil in which we find the following amounts of exchangeable cations:

Catio Grams in exchangeable form per 100 me/100

n g soil g
H+ .004 g 4
K+ .012 g 0.31
Ca++ .364 g 22.7
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BSAg-4B

Mg++ .091 g 72.92

CEC 99.93

d. Using the formula,

% base saturation = me of bases x 100

CEC
.
Calculate the % base saturation of the soil in problem c.

% base saturation = me of bases x 100

CEC
= (0.31 + 22.7 + 72.92) x100
99.93
= 95.93 x100
99.93

% base saturation = 96%

e. Calculate the % BS of a soil having a CEC of 15 me/100 g if only the following

basic cations can be replaced: .039 g K+, .200 g Ca++, and .048 g Mg++.

% base saturation = me of bases x 100

CEC
= (.039 + .200 + .048) x100
15
= 0.287 x100
15

% base saturation = 2%