Exam 1 soil science CSES 2040 UPDATED
ACTUAL Questions and CORRECT
Answers
Definition of Soil - CORRECT ANSWER - The unconsolidated mineral or organic
material on the immediate surface of the Earth that serves as a natural medium for the growth of
land plants.
characteristics of minerals - CORRECT ANSWER - Homogeneous inorganic compounds -
have a definite chemical formula
primary minerals - CORRECT ANSWER - formed as molten lava cools and solidifies, not
chemically altered by weathering
secondary minerals - CORRECT ANSWER - recrystallization and/or alteration of primary
minerals
formula for Geothite - CORRECT ANSWER - FeOOH
formula for Hematite - CORRECT ANSWER - Fe2O3
formula for Gibbsite - CORRECT ANSWER - Al(OH)3
formula for calcite (lime) - CORRECT ANSWER - CaCO3
formula for gypsum - CORRECT ANSWER - CaSO4
igneous rock - CORRECT ANSWER - formed when molten lava cools
ex. granite, basalt
,sedimentary rock - CORRECT ANSWER - deposition and re-cementation of weathering
products from other rocks.
metamorphic rocks - CORRECT ANSWER - igneous or sedimentary rocks transformed
by high heat or pressure
physical weathering - CORRECT ANSWER - Disaggregation and fragmentation of rocks.
NO CHANGE INCOMPOSITION (Chemical Alteration)
chemical weathering - CORRECT ANSWER - Change in the Chemical Composition.
These are reactions with minerals, water and air
biological weathering - CORRECT ANSWER - Process with living things, and so can
include physical or chemical processes
water - CORRECT ANSWER - what is REQUIRED for chemical weathering
hydrolysis (chemical weathering) - CORRECT ANSWER - refers to the chemical
transition of one mineral to another. FORMS NEW COMPOUNDS.
dissolution (chemical weathering) - CORRECT ANSWER - a chemical weathering
process in which the combination of water and acid slowly removes mineral compounds from
solid bedrock and carries them away in liquid solution.
hydration (chemical weathering) - CORRECT ANSWER - is the absorption of water into
the mineral structure.
addition of water
oxidation/reduction (chemical weathering) - CORRECT ANSWER - addition/loss of
electrons (e-) from the atom
, most common in iron
oxidation - CORRECT ANSWER - LOSS of electron
reduction - CORRECT ANSWER - GAIN of electron
complexation (chemical weathering) - CORRECT ANSWER - Microorganisms and roots
exude organic acid anions
ex. citrate, oxalate, etc.
hydrolysis - CORRECT ANSWER - what is the most important type of chemical
weathering
brown, red, yellowish color - CORRECT ANSWER - how does soil change as a function
of oxidation
grayish color - CORRECT ANSWER - how does soil change as a function of reduction
additions
losses
translocation
transformation - CORRECT ANSWER - what are the four types of soil formation
additions - CORRECT ANSWER - movement into a profile
losses - CORRECT ANSWER - movement out of a profile
translocation - CORRECT ANSWER - movement within the profile
ACTUAL Questions and CORRECT
Answers
Definition of Soil - CORRECT ANSWER - The unconsolidated mineral or organic
material on the immediate surface of the Earth that serves as a natural medium for the growth of
land plants.
characteristics of minerals - CORRECT ANSWER - Homogeneous inorganic compounds -
have a definite chemical formula
primary minerals - CORRECT ANSWER - formed as molten lava cools and solidifies, not
chemically altered by weathering
secondary minerals - CORRECT ANSWER - recrystallization and/or alteration of primary
minerals
formula for Geothite - CORRECT ANSWER - FeOOH
formula for Hematite - CORRECT ANSWER - Fe2O3
formula for Gibbsite - CORRECT ANSWER - Al(OH)3
formula for calcite (lime) - CORRECT ANSWER - CaCO3
formula for gypsum - CORRECT ANSWER - CaSO4
igneous rock - CORRECT ANSWER - formed when molten lava cools
ex. granite, basalt
,sedimentary rock - CORRECT ANSWER - deposition and re-cementation of weathering
products from other rocks.
metamorphic rocks - CORRECT ANSWER - igneous or sedimentary rocks transformed
by high heat or pressure
physical weathering - CORRECT ANSWER - Disaggregation and fragmentation of rocks.
NO CHANGE INCOMPOSITION (Chemical Alteration)
chemical weathering - CORRECT ANSWER - Change in the Chemical Composition.
These are reactions with minerals, water and air
biological weathering - CORRECT ANSWER - Process with living things, and so can
include physical or chemical processes
water - CORRECT ANSWER - what is REQUIRED for chemical weathering
hydrolysis (chemical weathering) - CORRECT ANSWER - refers to the chemical
transition of one mineral to another. FORMS NEW COMPOUNDS.
dissolution (chemical weathering) - CORRECT ANSWER - a chemical weathering
process in which the combination of water and acid slowly removes mineral compounds from
solid bedrock and carries them away in liquid solution.
hydration (chemical weathering) - CORRECT ANSWER - is the absorption of water into
the mineral structure.
addition of water
oxidation/reduction (chemical weathering) - CORRECT ANSWER - addition/loss of
electrons (e-) from the atom
, most common in iron
oxidation - CORRECT ANSWER - LOSS of electron
reduction - CORRECT ANSWER - GAIN of electron
complexation (chemical weathering) - CORRECT ANSWER - Microorganisms and roots
exude organic acid anions
ex. citrate, oxalate, etc.
hydrolysis - CORRECT ANSWER - what is the most important type of chemical
weathering
brown, red, yellowish color - CORRECT ANSWER - how does soil change as a function
of oxidation
grayish color - CORRECT ANSWER - how does soil change as a function of reduction
additions
losses
translocation
transformation - CORRECT ANSWER - what are the four types of soil formation
additions - CORRECT ANSWER - movement into a profile
losses - CORRECT ANSWER - movement out of a profile
translocation - CORRECT ANSWER - movement within the profile
