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Agriculture · Q369

Soil Science

Graduate and Post Graduate · Agriculture · question 369

Q369

The major source of negative charge on humus colloids is due to

A.
Carboxylic (-COOH) groups
B.
Enolic (-OH) groups
C.
Phenolic groups
D.
All of these
Answer

Answer: Option D

Solution

Answer: Option D
Solution:
Humus is the organic component of the soil. The charge on humus colloids is dependent on pH. It mostly exhibits a low negative charge. Under strongly acid conditions hydrogen is rigidly bound and not easily replaceable by other cations.
The major source of negative charge on humus colloids is due to carboxylic, enolic, and phenolic groups.