Question

The students in a group conducted observations on a soil sample and recorded their findings:

- Reddish-brown color
- Grains visible without a magnifying glass
- Gritty when dry
- Sticks to fingers when wet
- Odorless
- Dries quickly
- Does not produce foam with vinegar
- Damp soil forms a ball but falls apart quickly
Based on the provided observations, what type of soil did the students observe? Provide evidence from their observations to support your answer.

Answer 1

The students observed loamy soil, characterized by a balance of sand, silt, and clay, indicated by the soil's texture, color, and other properties such as not producing foam with vinegar and forming a ball that falls apart quickly when damp.

Step-by-step explanation:

The type of soil observed by the students is loamy soil. Loamy soil is known for its balance of sand, silt, and clay. The observations such as reddish-brown color and grains visible without a magnifying glass suggest a significant sand and silt content, which contributes to the gritty texture when dry and quick drying property. The fact that the soil sticks to fingers when wet indicates the presence of clay, which provides plasticity.

Since the soil does not produce foam with vinegar, it suggests a lack of significant carbonate materials, like limestone. Additionally, the ability of the damp soil to form a ball but fall apart quickly is characteristic of the good drainage and aeration found in loam. This hints at the presence of mixed particle sizes and moderate cohesion.