Photo AI
A student carried out an investigation in the school laboratory to determine the pH of a soil sample - Leaving Cert Agricultural Science - Question 3 - 2022
Question 3
A student carried out an investigation in the school laboratory to determine the pH of a soil sample. Briefly describe how the student carried out this investigatio... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:A student carried out an investigation in the school laboratory to determine the pH of a soil sample - Leaving Cert Agricultural Science - Question 3 - 2022
Step 1
Briefly describe how the student carried out this investigation.
Answer
- The student begins by adding the soil sample to a beaker.
- Distilled or deionised water is then added to the beaker, followed by stirring or mixing the solution well to ensure that the soil is properly dissolved.
- A filter paper is placed in a funnel, which is held in a retort stand, to filter the mixture.
- The liquid filtrate, which contains the water and dissolved soil components, is collected in a container.
- pH paper or universal indicator is added to the collected liquid.
- The student observes any change in color and compares this to a color chart to determine the pH of the soil sample.
Step 2
Suggest one implication this has for growing crops and one way the student could alter the pH of the soil.
Answer
Implication: The pH of 5.2 suggests low nutrient availability or nutrient deficiencies in the crop, which could lead to reduced crop yield.
Alter pH: One way the student could alter the pH of the soil is by adding lime to the land.