Soil pH

Biology Lab Report

Done By: Maya Makram, Mariam

Yasser, Mennahtallah Salem,
Maya Allam
Grade 11- Magenta

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 Table of Contents
1. Introduction………………………………………………………...2
2. Aim………………………………………………………………....2
3. Hypothesis………………………………………………………...2
4. Materials……………………………………………….………...2-3
5. Procedure…………………………………………….………….....3
6. Observation………………………………………………………...4
7. Conclusion…………………………………………………………4
8. References………………………………………………………….4

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Introduction:
Soil pH is a measure of the acidity or basicity of
a soil. pH is defined as the negative logarithm(base 10)
of the activity of hydronium ions (H+or, more
precisely, H3O+aq) in a solution. In soils, it is measured in
a slurry of soil mixed with water (or a salt solution, such
as 0.01 M CaCl2), and normally falls between 3 and 10,
with 7 being neutral. Acid soils have a pH below 7
and alkaline soils have a pH above 7. Ultra-acidic soils
(pH<3.5) and very strongly alkaline soils (pH > 9) are
rare.
Soil pH is considered a master variable in soils as it
affects many chemical processes. It specifically
affects plant nutrient availability by controlling the
chemical forms of the different nutrients and influencing
the chemical reactions they undergo. The optimum pH
range for most plants is between 5.5 and 7.5;however,
many plants have adapted to thrive at pH values outside
this range.
Aim:
To test whether the soil( pH) is basic or acidic.
Hypothesis:
The soil will react with one of the solutions creating a mixture.
Materials:

Soil

Baking Soda (Sodium

Bicarbonate) (Base)

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 Vinegar (Acetic Acid)

2 Transparent Cups/ Beakers

Spatula

Pipet

Procedure:
1. Using the spatula, add 2 spoons of soil in each cup.
2. Using the pipet, add vinegar to one of those cups.
3. Add baking soda to the other cups using the pipet.
Note: Add a little bit of water to mix both solid particles together.
4. Lightly stir both containers
5. Record your Observation

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Observation:
When vinegar was added to the soil, most of the soil particles
settled down, and the container turned into a muddy one instead;
however, no reaction took place. Moreover, whenever sodium chloride
was added to the soil (with water), also derived the same result, creating
a gooey substance with most of the soil particles unevenly distributed;
thus, also creating a lack of reaction. Both mixtures didn’t produce
frizzy bubbles making both reactions to not exist in this experiment.

Conclusion:
Soil pH is a characteristic that describes the relative acidity or
alkalinity of the soil. If the pH registers as being lower than 7, that
means your soil is acidic. However, if the pH is higher than 7, this
depicts that the soil is alkaline (Basic). Moreover, if the soil’s pH is
exactly 7 this means that the soil is neutral. In contrast, both beakers (in
our experiments) resulted in a lack of formation of bubbles or any other
indication; thus, both mixtures have a neutral pH. Soil pH will influence
both the availability of soil nutrients to plants and how the nutrients
react with each other. The “ideal” soil pH is close to neutral, and neutral
soils are considered to fall within a range from a slightly acidic pH of
6.5 to slightly alkaline pH of 7.5. It has been determined that most plant
nutrients are optimally available to plants within this 6.5 to 7.5 pH
range, plus this range of pH is generally very compatible to plant root
growth.

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Reference:
a) https://www.google.com.sa/search?
q=cotton+swab&oq=cotton+swab&aqs=chrome.0.69i59j0j69
i60j0l3.5321j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
b) https://www.google.com.sa/search?
safe=strict&ei=Ypj9WfGpCobtaOnutbAK&q=biology&oq=b
iology&gs_l=psy-
ab.3..0i67k1j0l9.99696.102356.0.102764.8.8.0.0.0.0.208.110
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