A group of students observed a sample of soil and recorded their observations.
reddish-brown color
don’t need a magnifying glass to see grains
gritty when dry
sticks to my fingers when wet
doesn’t smell like anything
dries quickly
does not get foamy with vinegar
damp soil made a ball but it fell apart quickly
What type of soil did the students observe? Use evidence from the students’ observations to support your answer.
Based on the given observations, the students observed loamy soil.
Loamy soil has a reddish-brown color and doesn't need a magnifying glass to see grains. It is gritty when dry and sticks to fingers when wet. It quickly dries and does not have any particular smell.
When damp, loamy soil can be formed into a ball, but it falls apart quickly, which is consistent with the students' observation. Additionally, the fact that the soil did not foam with vinegar also supports the idea that it was loamy soil.
Thus, considering all the observations, it is most likely that the students observed loamy soil.
B
Based on the observations provided, the students observed loamy soil. Here's the evidence from their observations:
1. Reddish-brown color: This color is commonly associated with loamy soil, which contains a mixture of organic matter, sand, silt, and clay.
2. Don't need a magnifying glass to see grains: This indicates that the soil has relatively large particles, which is typical of loamy soil.
3. Gritty when dry: Loamy soil has a well-balanced texture, consisting of particles of different sizes. This balance of particles contributes to the gritty texture when dry.
4. Sticks to my fingers when wet: Loamy soil retains water well due to its balanced composition, resulting in a certain level of stickiness when wet.
5. Doesn't smell like anything: The lack of odor is not specific to any particular soil type and does not provide strong evidence for a specific soil type in this case.
6. Dries quickly: Loamy soil has good drainage properties due to its mixture of particles, so it tends to dry relatively quickly.
7. Does not get foamy with vinegar: This observation suggests that the soil is not acidic since the fizzing reaction between vinegar and soil would indicate the presence of carbonate minerals.
8. Damp soil made a ball but it fell apart quickly: This suggests that the soil's composition allows it to form a temporary cohesive structure when compressed, but it lacks the clay content necessary for it to hold together for an extended period.
Based on these observations, the characteristics of loamy soil, such as its color, texture, water retention, and drainage properties, align with the students' observations.
Based on the students' observations, we can analyze the characteristics of the soil and determine its type.
1. Reddish-brown color: The color of the soil suggests the presence of iron oxide, which is commonly found in well-drained soils.
2. Don’t need a magnifying glass to see grains: This indicates that the soil has visible grains, which are typically found in sandy or loamy soils.
3. Gritty when dry: The gritty texture suggests the presence of coarse particles, indicating the soil may be sandy.
4. Sticks to my fingers when wet: This indicates that the soil has a high clay content. Clay soils tend to have a sticky texture when wet.
5. Doesn’t smell like anything: The absence of a distinct odor suggests that the soil does not contain any strong organic matter.
6. Dries quickly: Sandy soils tend to drain quickly and dry out fast, which suggests the presence of sand in the soil composition.
7. Does not get foamy with vinegar: If the soil did not react with vinegar, it indicates the absence of carbonates, which are commonly found in lime-rich soils.
8. Damp soil made a ball but it fell apart quickly: The ability of the soil to form a loose, easily crumbled ball when damp suggests a sandy or loamy texture.
Based on these observations, it can be inferred that the students observed a soil that is a combination of sandy and clayey soil, commonly known as loam soil. Loam soil is characterized by its balanced mixture of sand, silt, and clay particles, which provides good drainage, moisture retention, and fertility.