Processes

Question 1

Ecological role of Soil with Water

Answer 1

Stores water, reduces flow, filtration and purification

Question 2

Ecological role of Soil with Habitat

Answer 2

Soils create a wide range of niches which support a large amount of biodiveristy

Question 3

Ecological role of Soil with Plants

Answer 3

Provides physical support, water, air, nutrients, temperature regulation, and protection from toxins

Question 4

Ecological role of Soil with waste recycling

Answer 4

recycles water, nutrients, and organic waste.

Question 5

Ecological role of Soil with Atmosphere

Answer 5

exchanges gases such as oxygen co2 methane, nitrous oxide

Question 6

Ecological role of Soil with Engineering

Answer 6

One of the most widely used building materials

Question 7

Freeze-Thaw

Answer 7

When water gets into cracks of the rock, freezes and breaks parts of the rock off

Question 8

Exfoliation

Answer 8

Temperature differentials on the surface and at the center of the rock create stress fractures that eventually fail leading to sheets of rock falling from the parent material.

Question 9

Abrasion

Answer 9

Can occur by water, ice and wind. Loaded with sediment water and wind will force the particles against a rocks surface causing it to wear down. When glaciers move, they carry sediment within it which may grind against other rocks along its path wearing them down.

Question 10

Hydration

Answer 10

Intact water molecules bind to a mineral

Question 11

Hydrolysis

Answer 11

Water molecules split into their constituent H+ and OH- then the hydrogen often replaces a cation, from the mineral structure freeing it to be used by plants

Question 12

Dissolution

Answer 12

water molecules hydrate minerals until the mineral dissociates and surrounded by water

Question 13

Acid Reactions

Answer 13

weathering is accelerated by the presence of acid because they increase the reactivity of hydrogen ions in water

Question 14

Oxidation-Reduction

Answer 14

Minerals that contain iron, manganese, or sulfur are especially susceptible to redox reactions. air and water react to take an electron which disrupts the structure of the mineral causing it to break down.

Question 15

Transformations

Answer 15

occur when soil constituents are chemically or physically modified or destroyed and others are synthesized from the precursor material. many transformations involve weathering primary minerals, disintegrating and altering some to form various silicate clays.

Question 16

Translocation

Answer 16

involve the movement of inorganic and organic materials laterally within a horizon or vertically from one horizon up or down

Question 17

Additions

Answer 17

Inputs of materials to the developing soil profile

Question 18

Losses

Answer 18

Materials are lost from the soil profile by leaching intot ground water, erosion of surface material and volitization of gases.