Central Luzon State University

Science City of Muñoz 3120

Nueva Ecija, Philippines

Instructional Module for the Course

SO1100
Principles of Soil Science-Laboratory

Laboratory Activity 6
Soil Colloids
I. Objectives
Upon the completion of this module you are expected to;
1. To understand the characteristics of the colloidal component of the soil
and their importance,
2. To compare the extent of the presence of charges in different soil colloids,
and
3. To study the colloidal component of the soil and their characteristics.

II. Learning Activities

INTRODUCTION
The most chemically active components of the soil are both the mineral
and organic soil colloids. Their reactivity is attributed to the tremendous
surface area and the presence of the positive and negative charges.
However, soil colloids dominantly, contain negatively charged ions. Both negatively
and positively charged surfaces are found on soil colloid but generally the net
charge within the usual pH range in soil is negative.

Figure 1. Electron micrograph of soil colloids.

(Source: Brady and Weil. The Nature and Properties of Soils, 15th Edition)
The very fine inorganic particles with size limit of one micron (µ) are
known as clay or mineral colloids. Clay colloids may be either crystalline or

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 SO1100 (Principles of Soil Science Laboratory)

amorphous in nature. Crystalline clays may have a definite structure of silicates

which could be 1:1, silica tetrahedral: aluminum octahedron layer or a 2:1, two
silica tetrahedral layer sandwiching an aluminum: octahedron layer. Each types of
clay colloid have their own characteristics which affects the properties of the soil.
An example is the shrinking and swelling capacity of the soil during the wetting
and drying condition may be dominated by the 2: type of layer silicate. On the
other hand, a non-crystalline clays are colloidal silicates with crystalline
structure which are not sufficiently ordered. These minerals are somewhat poorly
defined aluminum silicates. Allophane and imogolite may be considered as non-
crystalline minerals, along with iron and aluminum oxides, and colloids from an
organic origin, the organic colloids. The characteristics of the mineral soils
generally depends on the dominant clay minerals present.

Figure 2. Crystalline clay structures.

(Source: Brady and Weil. The Nature and Properties of Soils, 15th Edition)
Organic products, such as humus resulting from decomposition of organic
residues are known as the organic colloids.

MATERIALS
 Test tubes
 Rubber rings
 Petri dishes
 Filter paper
 Funnels
 watch glass
 Soil samples
 Ca(OH)2
 Gentian violet - dissolve 0.2g in 1L distilled water
 Eosin red - dissolve 0.2 g in 1 L distilled water
 0.2 N NaOH – dissolve 8 g/li of NaOH pellets
 Copper wires

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 SO1100 (Principles of Soil Science Laboratory)

 Battery
 Dish
 Alum
 NaCl

PROCEDURE

Important!

General Instruction: For part A and C watch the recommended video and
record the results of the experiment. For Part B and D, you have two options.
Option A involves the actual conduct of the experiment, option B involves
watching the recommended video and recording the results and taking
screenshots/documentation or making hand drawn illustration.

Note: If you will choose option A. Conduct the experiments under the strict
supervision of your parents/guardians. Ensure that every step is executed in
a conscientious manner. Wear appropriate or improvised personal protective
equipment like eye shields, face masks, gloves, etc. Conduct the activity in a
clean and safe environment with proper ventilation and free of highly
flammable materials. Make sure to document each step.

A. Proof for the Presence of Charges on Soil Colloids (Dye Method)

1. Pour about 10 mL of Gentian violet solution into a test tube. The
color of this dye is due to the large organic ion which is positively
charged. In another test tube, place about 10 mL of Eosin red
solution. The color of this dye is due to a large organic ion which is
negatively charged.
2. Place about 3 grams of soil sample into each of the test tube
containing the dyes. Stopper and shake vigorously.
3. Filter and catch the leachate into clean, dry test tubes and examine
the filtrates. Write your observations.

Recommended Video Link

Soil Chemistry Experiment - Virtual STEM Festival - YouTube

B. Proof for the Presence of Charges on Soil Colloids (Battery

Method)
1. Prepare a 1:1 clay water slurry, mix the suspension well. Make sure
to use a clay soil with high amounts of organic matter.
2. Cut two lengths of copper wire about 8 inches long.

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 SO1100 (Principles of Soil Science Laboratory)

3. Attach one copper wire to the positive pole of the battery and attach
the second copper wire to the negative pole (any battery will do, but
a higher voltage work battery works faster and better). Make sure
that the insulation is off the wore at the points of contact to the
battery and in the clay slurry.
4. Place the ends of the wires in flask/cup filled with the clay slurry.
5. After 10-15 minutes check to see whether the clay particles have
moved to the wire attached to the positive and negative pole.

Recommended Video Link

Clay Negative Charge Battery Demonstration - YouTube

C. Swelling of Colloidal Clay (Ring Method)

1. Place a rubber ring in each of the 3 petri dishes. Pack evenly equal
volumes of two clay samples (A and B) and one sand sample into
each rubber ring. Soil A is dominantly montmorillonite and Soil B is
kaolinite.
2. Add water into the Petri dishes and let them stand until samples are
fully saturated.
3. Compare the degree of swelling, if any, among sample. Draw
conclusions regarding the swelling behavior of soils in relation to clay
content and clay type.

Recommended Video Link

Clay soils swelling on wetting at Cranfield University - YouTube

D. Dispersion and flocculation of soil colloids

Using NaOH and Ca(OH)2)
1. Prepare a colloidal suspension by treating 3 grams of soil with 15 mL
of 0.2 N NaOH solution in a test tube
2. Mix well and pour about one half of the suspension in a funnel with
filter paper
3. Catch the filtrate in a test tube. Observe if the suspension passed
thru the filter paper
4. Treat the remaining half of the suspension in the test tube with a
small amount of Ca(OH)2. Shake and allow to stand for a few
minutes. Observe what happened.

Dispersion and Flocculation of Soil Colloids (Using Alum and

NaCl)
1. Prepare 3 soil suspension by adding 2 tablespoon of clay soil in a
cup.
2. Fill the cup with water and mix the suspension.

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 SO1100 (Principles of Soil Science Laboratory)

3. On one of the cups, add 1 teaspoon of salt, on the other add 1

teaspoon of alum. Don’t put anything on the third suspension, it will
serve as the control.
4. Mix the suspension for 1-5 minutes, make sure that all the added
components are dissolved.
5. Stop stirring and observe the turbidity of the suspension. Observe
the suspension for 5 minutes.
6. Record your observations in the data sheet provided.

Recommended Video Link

Visualizing Soil Properties: Dispersion and Flocculation - YouTube

Prepare two soil by placing 3-5

g of soil into a test tube GentianViolet Eosin Red
(+) (-)

Add 10 mL of gentian violet (+) -- --

on one test tube, while eosin -- --
-- + -- +
red (-) on the other Soil with negative
-- + and positive -- +
-- --
charges
-- -- -- --
Mix the suspension vigorously

Filter the suspension, catch and

observe the color of the
leachate Leachate Leachate
1 2

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 SO1100 (Principles of Soil Science Laboratory)

Place soil inside the rubber

ring placed in a petri dish

Wet the soil by applying

water around the ring

If the soil has expanding

type of clay, the soil will
expand and emulsify

H2O

Prepare a colloidal
suspension of 3 g soil
and 15 mL NaOH
solution in a test tube Soil+ Soil+
Ca(OH)2 NaOH

Shake the suspension

Filter the half of the

suspension and observe
if the suspension
passed through the filter
paper
Add a small amount of
Ca(OH)2 on the
remaining half of the
suspension

Filter the suspension

and observe if the
suspension passed
through the filter paper

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 SO1100 (Principles of Soil Science Laboratory)

III. Assessment
REPORT SHEET
Laboratory Activity 6
RESULTS

A. Proof for the Presence of Charges on Soil Colloids (Dye Method)

Color of Dominant
Soil Mixture Charges (+/-)
Leachate
of Colloid
Soil + - dye
SOIL Soil + + dye

B. Proof for the Presence of Charges on Soil Colloids (Battery Method)

Copper wires from soil Copper wires from soil
suspension 1 (cracking soil) suspension 2 (non-cracking soil)

Attach photograph Attach photograph

Observation: Observation:

C. Swelling of Colloidal Clay (Ring Method)

Soil A Soil B

Attach photograph Attach photograph

Observation: Observation:

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 SO1100 (Principles of Soil Science Laboratory)

F. Dispersion and Flocculation of Soil Colloids (Using NaOH and Ca(OH)2)

Soil A Soil B

Attach photograph Attach photograph

Observation: Observation:

G. Dispersion and Flocculation of Soil Colloids (Using Alum and NaCl)

Soil + Alum Soil+ NaCl

Attach photograph Attach photograph

Observation: Observation:

DISCUSSION

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 SO1100 (Principles of Soil Science Laboratory)

CONCLUSION
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References
Brady NC and Weil RR (2017) The Nature and Properties of Soil, 15th Ed. Pearson
Education Limited. Harlow, England.
SO1100 (2014) Laboratory Manual: Principles of Soil Science. Central Luzon State
University, College of Agriculture, Department of Soil Science

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