The Chemistry of Soils / Edition 2

by Garrison Sposito

Overview

An updated version of the standard soil chemistry text published in 1989, The Chemistry of Soils 2nd Ed. covers topics that illustrate current applications to environmental chemistry, ecosystem biogeochemistry, and scientific agriculture, with a strong emphasis placed on the role of soil microbes as mediators of soil chemical phenomena.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780195313697
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	04/30/2008
Edition description:	Older Edition
Pages:	344
Product dimensions:	9.30(w) x 6.30(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Gary Sposito was the former Chair in Soil Science and is now Professor Emeritus of Ecosystem Sciences and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Berkeley.

Table of Contents

The Chemical Composition of Soils     3
Elemental Composition     3
Metal Elements in Soils     8
Solid Phases in Soils     11
Soil Air and Soil Water     16
Soil Mineral Transformations     17
For Further Reading     20
Problems     21
Balancing Chemical Reactions     25
Soil Minerals     28
Ionic Solids     28
Primary Silicates     36
Clay Minerals     41
Metal Oxides, Oxyhydroxides, and Hydroxides     49
Carbonates and Sulfates     54
For Further Reading     56
Problems     57
The Discovery of the Structures of Clay Minerals     59
Soil Humus     65
Biomolecules     65
Humic Substances     70
Cation Exchange Reactions     72
Reactions with Organic Molecules     77
Reactions with Soil Minerals     82
For Further Reading     85
Problems     86
Film Diffusion Kinetics in Cation Exchange     91
The Soil Solution     94
Sampling the Soil Solution     94
Soluble Complexes     96
Chemical Speciation     101
Predicting Chemical Speciation     104
Thermodynamic Stability Constants     110
For Further Reading     113
Problems     114
Mineral Stability and Weathering     119
Dissolution Reactions     119
Predicting Solubility Control: Activity-Ratio Diagrams     125
Coprecipitated Soil Minerals     130
Predicting Solubility Control: Predominance Diagrams     133
Phosphate Transformations in Calcareous Soils     135
For Further Reading     139
Problems     140
Oxidation-Reduction Reactions     144
Flooded Soils     144
Redox Reactions     148
The Redox Ladder     154
Exploring the Redox Ladder     159
pE-pH Diagrams     162
For Further Reading     165
Problems     166
Balancing Redox Reactions     169
The Invention of the pH Meter     171
Soil Particle Surface Charge     174
Surface Complexes     174
Adsorption     179
Surface Charge     181
Points of Zero Charge     183
Schindler Diagrams      188
For Further Reading     190
Problems     191
Soil Adsorption Phenomena     195
Measuring Adsorption     195
Adsorption Kinetics and Equilibria     197
Metal Cation Adsorption     203
Anion Adsorption     206
Surface Redox Processes     209
For Further Reading     214
Problems     214
Exchangeable Ions     219
Soil Exchange Capacities     219
Exchange Isotherms     223
Ion Exchange Reactions     226
Biotic Ligand Model     230
Cation Exchange on Humus     233
For Further Reading     238
Problems     239
Colloidal Phenomena     244
Colloidal Suspensions     244
Soil Colloids     248
Interparticle Forces     250
The Stability Ratio     255
Fractal Floccules     261
For Further Reading     266
Problems     267
Mass Fractals     271
Soil Acidity     275
Proton Cycling     275
Acid-Neutralizing Capacity     279
Aluminum Geochemistry      282
Redox Effects     286
Neutralizing Soil Acidity     288
For Further Reading     290
Problems     291
Measuring pH     293
Soil Salinity     296
Saline Soil Solutions     296
Cation Exchange and Colloidal Phenomena     298
Mineral Weathering     302
Boron Chemistry     305
Irrigation Water Quality     308
For Further Reading     311
Problems     312
Units and Physical Constants in Soil Chemistry     316
For Further Reading     319
Problems     319
Index     321

Editorial Reviews

"This book by Garrison Sposito reflects the latest insights in the field and is a welcome update for those who want to have a fundamental insight into the processes in soils, insight which is needed to safeguard the crucial role of soils for life on earth. [...] The book is certainly also of interest for researchers already familiar with soil chemistry, as it may provide a new and interesting view of the subject." — Bert-Jan Groenenberg, Acta Cryst

"This revised edition is especially welcome. The work maintains the organization of previous editions, but the material has been significantly revised, including the reading lists and the presented problems.[...] The 120 problems provided are often challenging, but they represent an essential component of the presentation. This excellent treatment is highly recommended, although the discussion will be most useful to those who have had a solid introduction to chemical principles. — H. E. Pence, CHOICE

From the Publisher