NAME: Clayson Iauma ID: S11016863

Experiment 3
Soil Chemistry: Exchangeable Bases

Summary:
The soil; a complex system of all phases of matter existing and interacting due to the ions present in
the organic matter and minerals (inorganic) and both make up 50% of the soil composition. Ion
exchange such as the CEC (cation exchangeable capacity) is an important chemical function of soils
since it can be affected by leaching. This experiment results showed that the topsoil has a lower pH
compared to the sub-soil and the most abundant soil macro nutrient was Mg2+.

Introduction
The soil is composed of mainly of mineral, organic matter water and air. And is a complex system
since all phases of matter exists and are intereatng physicall and chemically.
The inorganic compopnents is the largest of the components present in the soil that was formed from
the weathering of PM and minerals and then form inorganic colloids that are <0.001mm in sizes.
These colloids are repository for water and nutrients for plants. On the other hand, the organisc
component (Organic Matter) formed about 5% of the soil but plays an important part as it determines
soil productivity as it serves as food source for microorgnaisms and also ion exchange site. The ion
exchange site interaction in particular the ion exchangeable hehaviour, occurs between the organic
matter/clay material (negative charge) and the inorganic matter(exchangeable cations). For instance,
the macro nutrients (calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium ions) have no specific interactions
and their relative occupation of exchange sites reflect the charge density of the hydrated ions and the
relative concentration in the soil solution.

Therefore, the aim of this experiment was designed to determine the soil (topsoil and sub-soil) pH
and the concentration of macro nutrients (Ca2+, Mg2+, K+ and Na+) present.

Materials: As per lab manual

Method

In this lab, there are two parts.

Part 1: Prepare intermediate standards.
The composite standards of 0ppm, 1ppm, 2ppm, 3ppm, 4ppm and 5ppm were prepared using the
stock solution of 100ppm Ca²⁺, 10ppm Mg²⁺, 10ppm Na⁺ and 10ppm K⁺.
Part 2: Determine pH of the soil samples (top soil and sub-soil) dissolved in KCl and DDW.
Firstly, two 10 g of both the topsoil and subsoil samples were weight into separate. Then 2 sets of 4g
silica sand (purified sand) weighed into separate beakers. A beaker of silica sand was poured into the
topsoil and the other into the sub-soil and was mixed thoroughly. The soil samples were then poured
into separate leaching tubes with volumetric flasks at the closed end ready to collect the leaching
solution. Into each leaching tubes, 85ml of 1M ammonium acetate were poured into and allowed let
the solution wash the matrix in the tubes. The samples were then eluted into the volumetric flasks.
After solution completed, the volumetric flasks were removed and 10ml of H+/Sr/Gs matrix added
into separate flasks. Distilled water was used to top the solution to the meniscus mark. The pH meter
was used to measure the pH of the topsoil and sub-soil samples.
Part 3: Determine the soil macronutrients and pH in topsoil and sub-soil
Four beakers were taken and two had KCl labelled on it and the other 2 labelled DW (distilled water).
In the KCl beakers, 10g of topsoil was added into one beaker and to the other beaker, 10g of sub-soil
was added. Similarly, 10g of topsoil was the DW labelled beaker and 10g of sub-soil to the other DW
labelled beaker. Then two 25ml distilled water were added into both DW labelled beakers. In the KCl
labelled beakers, 25ml of 1M KCl was added to both beakers. The beakers were mixed well and each
placed on a magnetic stirrer for 20minutes. The pH for each beaker were measured and recorded.
The AAS pinnacle was used to analyse the four samples. And the absorbances were recorded.

Results

Part 1: Prepare intermediate standards.

Table 1a: Preparation of Composite standards
Stock Composite Standards (C1V1=C2V2)
solution 0ppm 1ppm 2ppm 3ppm 4ppm 5ppm
100ppm 100xV1=0x 100xV1=1x 100xV1=2x 100xV1=3x 100xV1=4x 100xV1=5x
Ca²⁺ 100 100 100 100 100 100
V1 = 0ml V1 = 1ml V1 = 2ml V1 = 3ml V1 = 4ml V1 = 5ml
10ppm 10xV1=0x1 10xV1=0.1 10xV1=0.2 10xV1=0.3 10xV1=0.4 10xV1=0.5
Mg²⁺ 00 x100 x100 x100 x100 x100
V1 = 0ml V1 = 1ml V1 = 2ml V1 = 3ml V1 = 4ml V1 = 5ml
10ppm 10xV1=0x1 10xV1=0.2 10xV1=0.4 10xV1=0.6 10xV1=0.8 10xV1=1.0
Na⁺ 00 x100 x100 x100 x100 x100
V1 = 0ml V1 = 2ml V1 = 4ml V1 = 6ml V1 = 8ml V1 = 10ml
10ppm 10xV1=0x1 10xV1=0.4 10xV1=0.8 10xV1=1.2 10xV1=1.6 10xV1=2.0
K⁺ 00 x100 x100 x100 x100 x100
V1 = 0ml V1 = 4ml V1 = 8ml V1 = 12ml V1 = 16ml V1 = 20ml

Part 2: Determine pH of the soil samples (top soil and sub-soil) dissolved in KCl and DDW.
Table 2a: The pH of Top Soil and Sub-Soil in DDW and KCl
Soil In DDW (pHDDW) In 1M KCl (pHKCl)
Top Soil 6.76 5.32
Sub-Soil 6.97 5.72

Part 3: Determine the soil macronutrients and pH in topsoil and sub-soil

Table 1b: The absorbance for composite standards
Calcium 0ppm 1ppm 2ppm 3ppm 4ppm 5ppm
(Ca2+)
Absorbance 0 0.0765 0.1469 0.2101 0.2808 0.3567
Magnesium 0ppm 0.1ppm 0.2ppm 0.3ppm 0.4ppm 0.5ppm
(Mg2+)
Absorbance 0 0.2021 0.3523 0.5196 0.6326 0.785
Sodium (Na+) 0ppm 0.2ppm 0.4ppm 0.6ppm 0.8ppm 1.0ppm
Absorbance 0 1820 2099 3772 4302 4762
Potassium 0ppm 0.4ppm 0.8ppm 1.2ppm 1.6ppm 2.0ppm
(K+)
Absorbance 0 20975 30447 42265 44547 50217
Graph 1a: Calibration curve for Calcium
0.4
0.35
f(x) = 0.0702742857142857 x − 0.06746
0.3
0.25
Absorbance

0.2
0.15
0.1
0.05
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Concentration of Calcium (ppm)

Graph 1b: Calibration curve for Magnesium

0.9

0.8
f(x) = 0.153822857142857 x − 0.123113333333333
0.7

0.6
Absorbance

0.5

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Concentration of Magnesium (ppm)

Graph 1c: Calibration curve for Sodium

6000

5000 f(x) = 940.828571428571 x − 500.4

4000
Absorbance

3000

2000

1000

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Concentration Sodium (ppm)
Graph 1d: Calibration curve for Potassium

60000

f(x) = 9531.97142857143 x − 1953.4

50000

40000
Absorbance

30000

20000

10000

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Concentration of Potassium (ppm)

Table 1c: The concentration of Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium and Potassium in the Top Soil and
Sub-Soil
Concentration (ppm)
Sample Calcium Magnesium Sodium Potassium
Top Soil y= 0.1488 y=0.6276 y=1698 y=7364
y = 0.0703x - y = 0.1538x - y = 940.83x – y = 9532x -
0.0675 0.1231 500.4 1953.4
x= [0.1488+0.0675] x= x= [1698+500.4] / x=[7364+1953.4]
/ 0.0703 [0.6276+0.1231] 940.83 / 9532
x = 3.08 / 0.1538 x = 2.34 x =-0.98
x = 4.9
Sub-Soil y= 0.1373 y=0.4289 y=1988 y=6587
y = 0.0703x - y = 0.1538x - y = 940.83x – y = 9532x -
0.0675 0.1231 500.4 1953.4
x= [0.1373+0.0675] x= x= x=[6587+1953.4]
/ 0.0703 [0.4289+0.1231] [1988+500.4] / 9532
x = 2.91 / 0.1538 /1988 x = 0.90
x = 3.59 x = 1.25

Discussion

Part 1: Prepare intermediate standards.

From the table 1a results, it was noted that a 0ppm composite standard required 0ml of 100ppm Ca²⁺,
10ppm Mg²⁺, 10ppm Na⁺ and 10ppm K⁺ stock solutions. A 1ppm composite standard required 1ml
of 100ppm Ca²⁺, 1ml of 10ppm Mg²⁺, 2ml of 10ppm Na⁺ and 4ml of 10ppm K⁺ stock solutions. A
2ppm composite standard required 2ml of 100ppm Ca²⁺, 2ml of 10ppm Mg²⁺, 4ml of 10ppm Na⁺
and 8ml of 10ppm K⁺ stock solutions. A 3ppm composite standard required 3ml of 100ppm Ca²⁺,
3ml of 10ppm Mg²⁺, 6ml of 10ppm Na⁺ and 12ml of 10ppm K⁺ stock solutions. A 4ppm composite
standard required 4ml of 100ppm Ca²⁺, 4ml of 10ppm Mg²⁺, 8ml of 10ppm Na⁺ and 16ml 10ppm
K⁺ stock solutions. A 5ppm composite standard required 5ml of 100ppm Ca²⁺, 5ml of 10ppm Mg²⁺,
10ml of 10ppm Na⁺ and 20ml of 10ppm K⁺ stock solutions.

Part 2: Determine pH of the soil samples (top soil and sub-soil) dissolved in KCl and DDW.
The table 2a results are the pHKCl, and pHDDW of the topsoil and sub-soil. And the topsoil pHKCl,
and pHDDW values are 5.32 and 6.76 respectively while the sub-soil pHKCl, and pHDDW values are
5.72 and 6.97 respectively. These values showed that in the topsoil is more acidic since the pHKCl and
pHDDW are lower than the sub-soil pHKCl, and pHDDW values.

The table 1b showed the absorbance for the composite standards and have been determined by
Atomic Absorption Spectrometer. And K⁺ have the highest absorbance in 1ppm to 5ppm compared
to the other soil macro nutrients. Also, all the soil macro nutrients follows the Beer-Lambert Law
which is absorbance is directly proportional the concentration. For instance, the K⁺ absorbance at
1ppm was 20975 and at 5ppm, the absorbance was 50217. Also, Ca²⁺ at 1ppm, the absorbance was
0.0765 and at 5ppm, the absorbance was 0.3567.

The calibration curve results in graph a-d were obtained by plotting the concentration vs absorbance
of Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺ and K⁺ present in the composite standards. And the calibration curve for Ca²⁺,
Mg²⁺, Na⁺ and K⁺ are y=0.0703x – 0.0675, y=0.1538x – 0.1231, y=940.83x – 500.4 and y=9532x –
1953.4 respectively. The calibration curve for Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺ and K⁺ showed that the absorbance
is directly proportional to the concentration. Thus, the Beer-Lambert law applied. Furthermore, the
calibration curve determined was used to calculate the concentration of Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺ and K⁺ in
the topsoil and sub-soil.

The table 1c results are the concentrations for Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺ and K⁺ in the topsoil and sub-soil.
And it was calculated by using the calibration curve and the topsoil and sub-soil absorbance. So, the
concentration of Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺ and K⁺ in the top soil are 3.08, 4.9, 2.34 and 0.98 respectively. In
the sub-soil, the concentration of Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺ and K⁺ are 2.91, 3.59, 1.25 and 0.90 respectively.
Overall, in the topsoil and sub-soil, the Mg² exited in abundance since it has the highest concentration
followed by Ca²⁺, K⁺ and lastly, Na⁺.

Conclusion
The conclude, the experiment was successfully conducted and the pH (pHDDW & pHHCl) of topsoil
was less than that of the sub-soil. Also, Mg²⁺ have the highest concentration if the topsoil and sub-
soil.

References
Miloslav Šimek, L. D. (2002). Soil Biology and biochemestry. Elsevier , 1227-1234.