Water particles adhere tightly to soil particles due to _____. a. adhesive properties of minerals in the soil b. hydrogen bondin
g with negative charges on soil particles c. the small spaces between particles through which gravity can draw the water d. ionic bonding with negative charges on soil particles e. hydrogen bonding with positive charges on soil particles
Water in the soil is held tightly by adhesive forces between the water molecules and the mineral content in soil particles - in the microspores.
Explanation:
While water passes through the macrospores of soil by gravity, water passes through the microspores mainly by cohesion between the water molecules and adhesion between the water molecules and soil minerals. The more surface area for the minerals in the soil (due to finer particle sizes) the higher the water retention rate of the soil. This is why soil with more humus (like silt and clay) retains water more than soils like sand.
