3. Bring the soil sample of your area, find out if it is acidic, basic or neutral. Discuss with farmers if they treat the soil in any manner.
Answer:
The experiment is described below:
Aim: To identify whether different soil samples in your area are acidic or basic in nature and discuss soil treatment with farmers.
Materials Required: Different soil samples, vinegar (acid), baking soda (base), water, two containers.
Procedure:
(i) Mix each soil with water in a separate container.
(ii) Add acidic vinegar to each and observe if the mixture is bubbling. If yes, there is no need to add basic baking soda to the solution.
(iii) If on addition of the acid there is no bubbling, you must add baking soda to the solution.
Observation:
Some soil samples will bubble on addition of the acidic vinegar, some will bubble on addition of the basic baking soda and others will show no bubbling on addition of acidic vinegar as well as basic baking soda.
Conclusion:
If the mixture bubbles on addition of acidic vinegar that means there is an acid-base neutralisation reaction taking place and we can conclude that the soil sample is basic. If the mixture bubbles on addition of basic baking soda that there is an acid-base neutralisation reaction taking place and we can conclude that the soil sample is acidic in nature. Lastly, if the mixture does on bubble on addition of either acid or base we can conclude that there is no neutralisation reaction taking place and the soil is neutral.
Discuss with farmers if they treat the soil in any manner:
You will find that farmers treat acidic soil with quick lime (calcium oxide), slaked lime (calcium hydroxide) or calcium carbonate – all basic in nature to neutralise the effect of the acid. This is done because acidic soil is not suitable for agriculture. Similarly, when the soil is too basic it becomes unsuitable for growing plants. Farmers add organic matter (compost) to neutralise the effect of the base. Acids released by decaying organic matter neutralise the basic nature of the soil.
“Bring the soil sample of your area, find out if it is acidic, basic or neutral. Discuss with farmers if they treat the soil in any manner.” – Solved
Related Links:
Solution to Extended Learning Question 1
Solution to Extended Learning Question 2
Solution to Extended Learning Question 4
Solution to Activity 4.1
Solution to Activity 4.2
Solution to Activity 4.3
Solution to Activity 4.4
Solution to Chapter 4 Acids, Bases and Salts
