Describe what is meant by the dipole nature of a water molecule- How i.docx

Describe what is meant by the dipole nature of a water molecule. How is this related to adsorbed water? Why does the presence of water in soil typically have a much greater effect on clays than in granular soils (i.e. sand)?
Solution
Water consist of hydrogen and oxygen atoms. The two hydrogen atoms are not symmetrically arranged around the oxygen atoms which leads to diploe nature of water.
Dipole water can be electrically attracted towards the surface of the clay particles. there are 3 mechanism by which water is attracted to surface of clay particles resulting in adsorbed water.
1) Attraction between negatively charged faces of clay particles and positive end of dipoles.
2) Attraction between cations in double layer and negatively charged ends of dipoles.
3) sharing of hydrogen atoms in water molecule by hydrogen bonding between oxygen atoms in clay particles and oxygen atoms in water molecule.
Since the water adsorbs on surface of clay particles, it affects various properties of clay like plasticity. The mechanisms by which water is attracted to clay particles does not takes place in granular soil. Hence water has greater effect in clayey soils than granular soils.
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1. Describe what is meant by the dipole nature of a water molecule. How is this related to adsorbed
water? Why does the presence of water in soil typically have a much greater effect on clays than
in granular soils (i.e. sand)?
Solution
Water consist of hydrogen and oxygen atoms. The two hydrogen atoms are not symmetrically
arranged around the oxygen atoms which leads to diploe nature of water.
Dipole water can be electrically attracted towards the surface of the clay particles. there are 3
mechanism by which water is attracted to surface of clay particles resulting in adsorbed water.
1) Attraction between negatively charged faces of clay particles and positive end of dipoles.
2) Attraction between cations in double layer and negatively charged ends of dipoles.
3) sharing of hydrogen atoms in water molecule by hydrogen bonding between oxygen atoms in
clay particles and oxygen atoms in water molecule.
Since the water adsorbs on surface of clay particles, it affects various properties of clay like
plasticity. The mechanisms by which water is attracted to clay particles does not takes place in
granular soil. Hence water has greater effect in clayey soils than granular soils.