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Agriculture · Q474

Soil Science

Graduate and Post Graduate · Agriculture · question 474

Q474

CEC of which of clay mineral is highest (120 - 150 cmol/kg)

A.
Mica
B.
Vermiculite
Answer
C.
Montmorillonite
D.
Chlorite

Answer: Option B

Solution

Answer: Option B
Solution:
CEC of Vermiculite is the highest of the given options and it is about 120 - 150 cmol/kg.
CEC (cation exchange capacity) is the measure of its ability to absorb cations from the solution. It has been defined as the number of cations that are available at a given pH for exchange with other cations.
Vermiculite is the name of a group of hydrated laminar minerals (aluminum-iron magnesium silicates) that look like mica. It is a hydrous phyllosilicate mineral that undergoes significant expansion when heated.