Category: Chemistry Notes PPT

What is Samarium?

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To explain what Samarium is, it is a chemical element which is represented by the symbol of the Sm element in the periodic table and the atomic number of Samarium is 62. In the year 1879, Samarium was discovered by Paul Emile Lecoq de Boisbaudran. It is a silvery, hard type of metal which oxidizes slowly in the air. It is a member of the lanthanide series which makes Samarium assuming oxidation state +3. Monoxide SmO, monochalcogenides Sms, SmSe and SmTe and samarium(II) iodide are generally compounds of Samarium. There is no significant biological role which can be found in Samarium, but only Samarium is slightly a toxic element. 

Uses Of Samarium 

What is Samarium used for can be explained as:

• Samarium-Cobalt magnets which have a very high permanent magnetization is one of the most critical applications of Samarium. These magnets can be seen used in headphones, small motors and musical instruments like guitars.

• In the manufacturing of solar-powered electric aircraft, this element can be seen.

• In the making of special infrared absorbing glass and cores of carbon arc lamp electrodes, are considered as uses of Samarium.

• It also acts as a catalyst in the ethanol dehydration process as well as uses of Samarium can be making new permanent magnets.

Properties Of Samarium 

Physical Properties Of Samarium 

Samarium is a rare earth metal having a hardness and thickness like those of zinc. With a boiling point of 1794 °C, Samarium is the third most volatile lanthanide after ytterbium and europium; this property encourages detachment of Samarium from the mineral ore. At surrounding conditions, Samarium typically accepts a rhombohedral structure (α form). After warming to 731 °C, its crystal symmetry changes into hexagonally close-packed (hcp), anyway the progress temperature relies upon the metal immaculateness. Further warming to 922 °C changes the metal into a body-centred cubic (bcc) stage. Warming to 300 °C joined with pressure to 40 kbar brings about a twofold hexagonally close-packed structure (dhcp). Samarium electron configuration is [Xe] 4f66s2. and Samarium atomic mass is 150.36 u.

Chemical Properties Of Samarium 

Newly prepared Samarium has a silvery radiance. In the air, it gradually oxidized at room temperature and suddenly ignites at 150 °C. In any point, when put away under mineral oil, samarium bit by bit oxidizes and builds up a greyish-yellow powder of the oxide-hydroxide blend at the surface. The metallic appearance of an example can be safeguarded via fixing it under inert gas, for example, argon. 

Samarium is very electropositive and responds gradually with cold water and rapidly with hot water to shape samarium hydroxide: 

2Sm(OH)3 (aq) + 3H2 (g) → 2Sm (s) + 6H2O (l) 

Samarium disintegrates promptly in dilute sulfuric acid to shape solutions containing the yellow to light green Sm(III) ions, which exist as [Sm(OH2)9]3+ complexes: 

2Sm (s) + 3 H2SO4 (aq) → 2 Sm3+ (aq) + 3 S(aq) + 3 H2 (g) 

One of the few lanthanides is samarium that exhibit the +2 oxidation state. The Sm2+ particles are dark red in fluid solution.

Compounds Of Samarium 

Oxides

Sesquioxide Sm2O3 is the most stable oxide of the Sm element. It exists in several crystalline phases, as many other samarium compounds. The trigonal form is obtained by slow cooling of the melt. 

Chalcogenides

Sm element forms trivalent sulfide, telluride and selenide. Divalent Chalcogenides SmS, SmSe and SmTe with cubic rock salt crustal structure are also known. By converting from semiconducting to metallic state at room temperature upon application of pressure is what Chalcogenides of the Sm element are known for.

Halides

Sm element reacts with all the halogens, forming trihalides.

2 Sm (s) + 3 X2 (g) → 2 SmX3 (s) (X = F, Cl, Br or I)

The further reduction with Samarium, lithium or sodium metals at elevated temperatures (about 700–900 °C) yields dihalides. The reduction also produces numerous non-stoichiometric samarium halides with crystal structure adding with the dihalides, such as Sm3F7, Sm14F33, Sm27F64, Sm11Br24, Sm5Br11 and Sm6Br13.

Solved Examples 

1. About 1016 years is taken for just half the samarium-149 in nature to decay by alpha-particle emission. Explain the decay equation and isotope that is produced by the reaction?

For samarium-149, the atomic number of Samarium is equal to 62 and a mass number is equal to 149. This means 

149=b+4→ mass number conservation

62=a+2→ change conservation

You will get

b=149−4=145

a=62−2=60

The element that has an atomic number equal to 60 is neodymium, Nd.

Neodymium-145 will be produced by the alpha decay of samarium-149 and an alpha particle.

62149Sm —> 60145Nd + 24He

Fun Fact 

1. Uses of Samarium have no biological role, and it is not that toxic. It is observed that some soluble salts are mildly toxic but cannot affect the human life.

2. Samarium is said to be the hardest member of the cerium group of earth metals.

3. Samarium has a bright silver metallic lustre. 

4. The origin of the name of Samarium is from smarskite, which is a mineral.

We all love to wear clothes that are comfortable for us and does look great in terms of both design and fitting. One of the fabrics which are associated with being the best fabric for making clothes is silk. All the clothes that are intimate contact with your body, such as your garments are made from silk to give you the best level of comfort all day. But we use silk not only in our clothes but in other areas as well. Today we are going to discuss the method called sericulture which provides us with silk. On the other hand, we will also shed some light on the health problems that are related to sericulture method of farming. 

The Complete Process of Sericulture 

In simple words, you can say sericulture is farming of silk, if you want to produce silk, you first need to raise silkworms. Yes, just like sheep gives us wool we get silk from silkworms. The complete step by step process of how you get silk from silk form is written down below. 

1. First, you get to farm silk moth, preferably, female silk moth as they comfortably lay hundreds of eggs each time. 

2. After that, once the eggs are laid, you need to carefully store them in a cloth or a paper whatever suits your requirement and put them under proper hygiene and appropriate conditions such as temperature and humidity. 

3. Now once the larvas are big enough, you need to place them on plants such as Mulberry so that they can eat its leaves. 

4. These larvas will now be grown into silkworms which then molts, like spider the silkworm will push out silk fibre from himself to make the net stronger 

5. The worm distributes its saliva by moving his head information of ‘8.’

6. When the saliva of silkworm comes in contact with air, it solidifies itself to form what you called a silk thread. 

7. Within 2-3 days the silkworm encloses itself in a cocoon made from silk fibre which is approximately more than 1Km. It makes the filament by spinning around itself. 

8. Once the formation of cocoon takes place and farmer sees no addition in fibre, he takes off the cocoon from the leaves and places them in the boiling water.

9. As a result, the silk fibre gets cleaned and becomes disinfected, and the worm living inside of it dies.

10. To take the silk out from cocoon farmers brushes out the undamaged cocoon to find the endpoint of the filament. 

11. The silk filaments which were then extracted would be then be reeled and ready for use.

Note:- Every 2500 silkworms will produce only 1.23 kgs of silk in 2-3 days and the worms have to be replaced to extract the silk from their cocoons. 

Why Is Sericulture Important? 

The method of producing silk in the farm is called sericulture, and it uses various natural resources to produce silk in a massive amount. Some of them are mulberry and silkworm rearing, also, once the cocoon is successfully formed, a farmer needs to do step by step post cocoon activities to extract the silk filament from the cocoon. In many countries, sericulture is the backbone to improve the economy of the country, as thousands of people are employed to its production cycle. 

In rural areas people, it plays a vital role to provide people with a poverty programme. And they are making sure the individual doesn’t migrate from rural to urban regions. As a result, we see so many Asian countries like China, India, Thailand, Shri Lanka all these developing countries take sericulture seriously to provide employment opportunities to the people in a rural area. 

Benefits of Sericulture

Not only does the sericulture provides us with silk, but it does have some by-products which can be used in a lot of ways. For example, the mulberry fruit is quite rich when it comes to having natural minerals and vitamins. In addition to this, several herbal medicines are being made from the roots and the branches of this tree. 

Furthermore, the mulberry trees provide rural people with timber which is an excellent resistant to termites, so it is used for making sports equipment and toys for kids. The leaves on which silkworms make their cacoon are dried up and then used as a fueling agent to light up the fire for cooking and other activities. 

Likewise, the silkworm pupae have a considerable amount of oil content, and the oil is used for manufacturing cosmetic materials and goods. Even after all this, some pupae remains it can be used as a feeder in poultry farms and fisheries as it contains protein which is suitable for both men and animals. 

Health Problems Related To Sericulture 

Sericulture uses various techniques which can be harmful to farmers, one by-product which is released during the rearing process is carbon monoxide that can cause skin allergies, irritation and respiratory problems. 

Most of these farms run in rural areas where no strict rules for hygienic farming are followed. On the other hand, silkworms demand cleanness to multiply in high numbers. Due to unhygienic conditions, silkworms can have Grasseire and Flacheire as a disease.

Lastly, Formalin is used to disinfect the cocoon before starting the rearing process. Being carcinogen, Formalin can cause eye and nasal irritation. 

Silicon was not characterized in its pure form until the year 1824 when Jons Jakob Berzelius first managed to do so. And it was because of the fact that silicon has a high chemical affinity to oxygen. Silicates, which contain silicon and oxygen, are formed by the oxides form of the silicon. The melting point is surpassed by only boron out of all the metalloids and nonmetals.

Silicon is a member of the carbon family and is a non-metallic chemical element, having atomic number 14, and belongs to group 14, period 3 in the p-block of the periodic table. Carbon is above it, while the elements like germanium, tin, lead, and flerovium are below it. Silicon is  metallic, one of the seven elements which have both the characteristics of non-metal and metal depending upon the other element to which it combines. Silicon used in electronics acts as metals, while the glass which is a silicon compound has non-metallic qualities. This element is denoted as ‘Si’. Electronic configuration of silicon is (Ne) 3s2 3p2. The state of silicon is solid at 20°C. It is used in moulding compounds.

Silicon is a hard yet breakable crystalline solid, and it has a bluish-grey metallic lustre, and also Silicon is tetravalent, that is to say, its valency is 4, it is also a semiconductor. Silicon is, for the most part, unreactive.

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Occurrence in Nature

Silicon is the second most abundant electropositive element which makes up 27.7% of the Earth’s crust by mass. It occurs in combined form in nature as silicon dioxide which is commonly known as silica. About 97% of Earth’s crust is made of rocks and comprises silicon and oxygen compounds. Silicon exists in nature in many dioxide forms, making compounds with oxygen, phosphorus, magnesium, and others. The minerals which contain silicon dioxide are known as silicates. 

Properties of Silicon

Being a metalloid, silicon also occurs in two allotropic forms. Allotropes are the element forms which have various chemical and physical properties.

 

Physical Properties of Silicon

1. One silicon’s allotrope is in the form of needle-like, shiny, greyish-black crystals or flat plates, while the other one has no crystal structure and it exists usually as a brown powder.

2. The atomic number of silicon is 14 and its relative atomic mass is 28.085 u.

3. The density of silicon is 2.3296 grams per cubic centimetre.

4. The silicon melting point is 1,410°C and the silicon boiling point is 3,265°C.

5. Silicon in its purest form is an intrinsic semiconductor Although adding impurities in small amounts helps in highly increasing the intensity of semiconductor.

 

Chemical Properties of Silicon

1. Silicon is purely electropositive in its chemical behaviour, has a metallic lustre, and is considered to be very brittle.

2. Silicon is very similar to metals in terms of chemical behaviour.

3. At room temperature, silicon is a relatively inactive element. Being solid, it does not combine with oxygen or other most related elements.

4. Silicon is very reactive at higher temperatures.

5. Silicon combines with oxygen, phosphorus, nitrogen, and other elements. It also forms alloys in the molten state.

Compounds/Polymers of Silicon (Silicon Materials)

• Silanes:- Silanes are very strong reducing agents and consist of homologous series of compounds such as silicon hydrides. When exposed to air, these polymers are very reactive and can easily catch fire. At room temperature, they are unstable.

• Silicides:- Silicides have similar structures to borides and carbides. Due to their similar structure, the heat of formation of these elements is similar. Silicon carbide is also known as Carborundum which is widely used as powdery material to polish or grind other material and has refractory properties.

• Silica:- Silica (Silicon dioxide)  mainly consists of granite and sandstone which is used in the manufacture of glass, abrasives, in water filtration, as a food additive, and many more.

• Halides:- Silicon compounds, mostly carbides, form silicon tetrahalides when they react with stable halogens. Unlike carbon tetrahalides, these readily hydrolyze in water.

• Silicic Acids:- Hydrated silica gels are formed as a result of increasing water concentration. Most silica gels are found to occur in an aqueous state.

 

Uses of Silicon

1. Silicon is used in the production of ceramics, bricks, and fire bricks.

2. Silicon is used to make many alloys such as aluminium–silicon and ferrosilicon known as iron–silicon which is widely used in the steel industry.

3. Silicon is used to make polymers of silicon-oxygen with the methyl group attached known as silicones and its oil is a lubricant added in hair conditioner and cosmetics.

4. Silicone rubber is used in waterproofing systems in bathrooms, roofs, and pipes.

5. Being a semiconductor, silicon is used in transistors and solid-state devices including microelectron
   ics and the computer industry.

6. The unprocessed form of silicon is used in the making of silica sand, clays, and stone. 

7. For Portland, which is the most common type of cement, silicates are used.

8. Silicon which is highly purified is also used in semiconductor electronics.

Fun Facts

1. In 1824, Silicon was discovered by Jons Jacob Berzelius.

2. The atomic structure of silicon has 14 electrons having 4 electrons in the outermost shell (having the highest energy level), 8 electrons in the second orbit, and 2 electrons in the first orbit.

 

Silicon Boiling Point

By heating silicon dioxide, silicon is prepared which is 96% to 98% pure. Various applications of silicon require it in a pure form which is known as hyper-pure silicon. It’s considered to be 99.7% pure.

Soda-lime is a white to grayish-white colored crystalline solid, which is a mixture of Calcium oxide and Sodium or Potassium hydroxide (both corrosive substances). Soda-lime is noncombustible and miscible in water with a release of heat, i.e., an exothermic reaction takes place. It is corrosive to both tissue and metals. This page discusses the soda-lime, soda-lime formula, soda-lime formula equation, soda-lime molecular formula, soda-lime composition, the function of soda-lime with its properties in detail.

Soda Lime Definition

Soda-lime is a soft drink lime. It is a combination of NaOH and CaO synthetics, utilized in granular structure in closed breathing conditions, like general sedation, submarines, rebreathers, and recompression chambers, to eliminate carbon dioxide from breathing gases to prevent [CO_{2}] maintenance and carbon dioxide harming. 

Soda-lime is a granular solid created by slackening quicklime (CaO) with a concentrated arrangement of sodium hydroxide, NaOH(aq). In substance reactions, Soda-lime does act as sodium hydroxide yet, in contrast to sodium hydroxide, it isn’t deliquescent and doesn’t attack the glass.

Soda-lime reacts with [CO_{2}] being breathed out by the creatures in the soil. The change in the weight of the soda-lime over the 48-hour hatching period can be utilized to estimate the amount of [CO_{2}] breathed by the soil microorganisms and different living beings. The size of soda-lime granules is significant. On the off chance that granules are too huge, the surface area of absorption is insufficient; on the off chance that they are too little, the tight space between granules brings about a high protection to breathing.

Soda Lime Chemical Formula

Soda lime’s molecular formula is [CaHNaO_{2}].

Soda Lime Composition

The chemical components included in the Soda Lime formation are Calcium oxide, CaO (about 75%)Water, [H_{2}O] (about 20%)Sodium hydroxide, NaOH (about 3%)Potassium hydroxide, KOH (about 1%).

Properties of Soda Lime

Soda Lime Float Glass Properties: Soda Lime Glass, otherwise called Float Glass contains both sodium and calcium and is formed by drawing the glass over liquid tin showers. 

Thermal and Mechanical Properties

• Thermal Conductivity: 0.937 W/mKDensity (at 20 °C/68 °F): [2.44 g/cm^{3}]

• Hardness (Mohs Scale): 6 – 7Knoop 

• Hardness: [585 kg/mm^{2}+ 20]

• Modulus of Elasticity (Young’s): [7.2 x 10^{10}Pa]

• Modulus of Rigidity (Shear): [3.0 x 10^{10}Pa]

• Bulk Modulus:[4.3 x 10^{10}Pa]

• Poisson’s Ratio: 0.22

• Specific Gravity: 2.53

• Specific Heat: 0.21

• Specific Weight: [2,483 g/cm^{3}]

• Thermal Coefficient of Expansion is 0/300 °Ca: 8.6 x 10 -6/°C

• Softening Point: 726°C/1340°F

• Annealing Range: 546°C/1015°F

• Strain Point: 514°C/957°F

Soda Lime Formula

Soft drink lime doesn’t have a substance recipe since it is a combination of synthetic compounds. It’s made out of;- ~ 75% Calcium Hydroxide [Ca(OH)_{2}] ~ 20% Water [H_{2}O ] ~ 5% Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH). Soft drink lime is set up by blending powdered slaked lime in with a fine fog of 20% sodium hydroxide arrangement in a rotating blender to shape permeable, round granules which are then dried. The time taken fluctuates on the interaction, yet generally, a group can be set up in 1 – 2 hours.

It’s utilized for retention of [CO_{2}] in both the substance research center and mechanical applications, for example, shut breathing conditions for example submarines, SCUBA re-breathing contraption, decompression chambers, hyperbaric chambers, and so forth.

Soda Lime Formula Equation

The fundamental overall reaction of [CO_{2}] absorption with soda lime is as per the following;- 

[Ca(OH)_{2} + CO_{2} rightarrow  CaCO_{3} + H_{2}O ]

This reaction is generally delayed all alone, which is the reason the ‘pop’ part (sodium hydroxide) is added. NaOH act as a catalyst to work with a quicker by and large reaction:

[CO_{2} + NaOH rightarrow  NaHCO_{3}…(1) ]

Now,  [NaHCO_{3}] reacts further with slaked lime to form caustic soda. 

Further Reaction:  

[NaHCO_{3} + Ca(OH)_{2} rightarrow  CaCO_{3} + H_{2}O + NaOH …(2) ]                          

(Baking soda)    (Slaked lime)   (Limestone)     (Water)     (Caustic soda)    

The development of water in the last response additionally accelerates the assimilation of [CO_{2}] by going about as a dissolvable to disintegrate [CO_{2}] and make it more accessible for the main response with sodium hydroxide.

Functions of Soda Lime

Soda-lime is utilized in breathing systems to absorb expired [CO_{2}] during anesthesia/insensibility.

It can be unified in a Mapleson C system or a circle system.

The Reaction:

[ H_{2}O + CO_{2} Rightarrow H_{2}CO_{3} high pH ]

[ H_{2}CO_{3} + 2 NaOH Rightarrow Na_{2}CO_{3} + 2H_{2}O high pH ]

[ Na_{2}CO_{3} + Ca(OH)_{2} Rightarrow CaCO_{3} + 2 NaOH high pH ]

[ H_{2}CO_{3} + Ca(OH)_{2} Rightarrow  CaCO_{3} + 2H_{2}O high pH ]

Point to Note: Reaction 4 happens just at a lethargic rate in these absorbents. [CO_{2}] in solution reacts with sodium hydroxide to frame the separate carbonates, which at that point react with calcium hydroxide to create calcium carbonate, recharging sodium hydroxide. Heat and water are released during the reaction. Fatigue of its action is demonstrated by colours; the most well-known one changes from pink to white.

Definition

Soda-lime is the common name for Sodium calcium hydrate ([CaHNaO_{2}]). It gets its name from two of its constituents sodium (Na) and limestone [(CaCO_{3})].

Physical Form

It is in the form of small whitish crystals which are easily breakable if managed strongly. They are brittle. Hence they are needed to handle carefully. 

Soda-lime has a great number of properties based on its constituents and their ratio. The differing ratios led to its usage in laboratories, hospitals, nursing homes, industries, and disaster management. 

Properties of Soda Lime

1. It is a mixture of
   sodium and calcium oxides and hydroxides in multiple ratios. Sometimes potassium hydroxide is also used to make soda lime. However, it is less common. Hence there can be many formulas. One such example, students can find here.

2. Highly corrosive and reactive. Hence can not be kept open. It should be kept away from the reach of children. And if used in the laboratory then one must wear protective gear.

3.  It has high absorption properties. It can easily absorb Carbon dioxide. 100 grams of soda-lime can absorb about 20 liters of [CO_{2}]. First, [CO_{2}] reacts with water present in soda-lime forming carbonic acid and then this acid reacts with strong bases to form carbonate and bicarbonate salts.

4. It is soluble in water. Water deneutralizes its effectiveness by diluting it.    

5. It is highly corrosive. It reacts rapidly with metals corroding them.

6. It is non-combustible on its own but starts decomposing on heating producing toxic fumes. 

7. It is highly alkaline. The pH is greater than 13. This is because it contains strong basic hydroxides of calcium and oxide of sodium. It turns litmus blue.  

8. It causes decarboxylation. In the case of salicylic acid, it converts acid into phenol while it converts benzoic acid into benzene. 

             

Uses of Soda Lime 

1. It is used for the laboratory preparation of methane gas. It is reacted with anhydrous sodium acetate, releasing methane gas as a product.

2. It is used for checking the presence of nitrogen in organic compounds. A small amount of compound is heated with soda lime. If there is the liberation of foul-smelling ammonia gas, it indicates the presence of nitrogen compounds. However azo compounds do not give this test. Azo compounds are described here. It is used to make soda-lime glass. Silica is added to soda lime to provide stability and hardness. This glass is stable and used in various items.

3. It is also used in removing toxic gases like arsenic if they get leaked into laboratories. They are also used in masks to absorb toxic gases.

4. It is also used in water treatment plants to remove hardness. Calcium and sodium salts bind with magnesium and potassium present in the water into an insoluble substance, which is later filtered out. The process is called the soda-lime or lime-soda process. 

5. It is also used as a drying agent in hospitals, pathologies, and laboratories.

To know more about soda-lime and its various properties, log on to and find out what the experts have to say. Get the factual information of this chemical compound and learn what it is to answer questions during exams.

Sodium hypochlorite is an ionic chemical compound with the formula NaOCl. It comprises sodium cation and hypochlorite anion. It is known by various other names such as antiform in, bleach etc. It is generally found in its pentahydrate state. As its anhydrous form is unstable and decomposes explosively. Sodium hypochlorite pentahydrate is a pale greenish-yellow solid which is stable and not explosive. It is widely used as a cleaning agent or as a bleach. 

Sodium Hypochlorite and its Formula

In liquid form, sodium hypochlorite is a strong oxidizing agent with a greenish or yellowish tint. Because it is the active element in bleach, it is generally referred to as bleach. One sodium (Na) atom, one chlorine (Cl) atom, and one oxygen (O) atom make up the chemical formula NaClO. The hypochlorite ion (ClO-) has an ionic interaction with the sodium (Na+) ion, as shown by its chemical structure. It has a molar mass of 74.44 grams per mol.

Structure of Sodium Hypochlorite

Sodium hypochlorite is a salt made up of sodium cation and hypochlorite anion. It is also known as the sodium salt of hypochlorous acid (HOCl). Its structure is given below –

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Uses of Sodium Hypochlorite 

Sodium hypochlorite is a very useful compound. It is used in many fields for various purposes. A few of its applications are listed below –

• It is used as bleach. Household bleach solutions generally contain 3-8% of sodium hypochlorite by weight. 

• It is used for cleaning purposes such as to remove mold stains, dental stains etc. 

• It is used as a disinfectant. It has an antimicrobial ability which makes it very useful in hospitals as a disinfectant. It is used in Dakin’s solution as well. 

• It has deodorizing and caustic effects which makes it even more useful for cleaning and laundry. 

• It is used in the treatment of wastewater. 

• Due to its effectiveness against pathogenic organisms, it is used in endodontic therapy. 

• Soaps containing sodium hypochlorite are being used for the treatment of eczema in humans for decades. 
  

Sodium Hypochlorite acts as a bleaching agent and disinfectant for household as well as industrial purposes.

It’s also used as a disinfectant in water treatment facilities, swimming pools, some medical and dental procedures, in the food business as a deodorizer, in households as a deodorizer and cleaning agent, and in laundry detergents as a stain remover and bleach.

Sodium Hypochlorite: Summary in Tabular Form 

This ends our coverage on the topic “Sodium hypochlorite”. We hope you enjoyed learning and were able to grasp the concepts. We hope after reading this article you will be able to solve problems based on the topic. If you are looking for solutions of NCERT Textbook problems based on this topic, then log on to website or download Learning App. By doing so, you will be able to access free PDFs of NCERT Solutions as well as Revision notes, Mock Tests and much more.

Soil pollution is defined as the presence of toxic chemicals (pollutants or contaminants) in the soil, in very high concentrations to pose a risk to human health and the ecosystem. Or in simple words Alteration in the natural soil due to human activities is termed Soil Pollution. For example, exposure to soil containing high concentrations of benzene can increase the risk of soil pollution diseases like contracting leukemia. 

Soil Contamination

All the soils contain compounds that are harmful to human beings and other living organisms. However, the concentration of such substances in unpolluted soil is so low that they do not pose any threat to the surroundings but when the concentration of such toxic substances becomes high enough to cause damage to living organisms, the soil is said to be contaminated.

Soil contamination can occur because of human activities or because of natural processes. However, mostly it is due to human activities. It occurs due to many different activities such as overuse of pesticides the soil will lose its fertility and the presence of excess chemicals will increase the acidity or alkalinity of soil and hence degrading the quality of the soil.

Types of Soil ​Pollution

• Agriculture soil pollution is caused due to the excessive use of pesticides and insecticides.

• Soil Pollution by industrial discharges of chemicals from mining and manufacturing of goods.

• Solid waste soil pollution/ Poor management or inefficient disposal of waste.

• Soil Pollution due to urban activities. etc

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Soil Pollution Causes

Industrial Pollution

The discharge of industrial waste into soils can result in soil pollution.  In India, as mining and manufacturing activities are increasing rapidly, soil degradation is also increasing. The extraction of minerals from the earth is responsible for affecting soil fertility. Whether it is iron ore or coal, the by-products are contaminated, and they are disposed of in a manner that is not considered safe. As a result, the industrial waste stays on the soil surface for a long duration and makes it unsuitable for further use.

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Agricultural Activities

The use of insecticides and pesticides for a long period can cause soil pollution. Repetitive use can cause insects and pests to become resistant to it. Instead of killing pests and insects, it degrades the soil quality. They are full of chemicals that are not produced in nature and cannot be broken down by them. As a result, they seep into the ground after they mix with water and slowly reduce the fertility of the soil. Plants absorb many of these pesticides, and after decomposition cause soil pollution.

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Waste Disposal

Disposal of plastics and other solid waste is a serious issue that causes soil pollution, disposal of electrical items such as batteries causes an adverse effect on the soil due to the presence of harmful chemicals. Eg: lithium present in batteries can cause the leaching of soil. Human waste such as urine, faeces, diapers, etc is dumped directly in the land. It causes both soil and water pollution.

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Acid Rain

It is caused when pollutants present in the air mix with the rain and fall back on the ground. The polluted water could dissolve away some of the essential nutrients found in soil and change the structure of the soil thus making it unsuitable for agriculture.

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Heavy Metals

The presence of heavy metals (such as lead and mercury) in very high concentrations present in soils can cause them to become highly toxic for human beings.

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Nuclear Waste

It can also lead to soil degradation.

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Oil Spills

Oil leaks can happen during the storage or transport of chemicals, the chemicals present in the fuel deteriorates the quality of soil and make them unsuitable for further cultivation, chemicals can also enter into the groundwater through the soil, and hence it will make water undrinkable.

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Effects of Soil Pollution

Soil pollution affects the health of humans, plants, and animals. Crops or plants grown on such contaminated soil absorb toxic material from the soil and will decrease the agricultural output of the land. When animals or human beings consume these crops or plants the toxic material can pass into their body.

Long-term consumption of these crops may cause chronic diseases that are untreatable. children are usually more susceptible to exposure to contaminants because they come in close contact with the soil by playing in the ground, So, it is always important to test the quality of the soil before allowing kids to play there, especially in an industrialized area.

Effects of Soil Pollution on Human Health

The contamination of soil has a major consequence on human health. Crops and plants that are grown on polluted soil absorb most of the pollution and then pass them to humans. Living, working, or playing in contaminated soil can lead to respiratory diseases, skin diseases, and other health problems. Diseases caused by soil pollution include Irritation of the skin and the eyes, Headaches, nausea, vomiting, Coughing, pain in the chest, and wheezing.

Effects on Plants 

In such a short period of time, plants are unable to adapt to the soil change chemistry. Fungi and bacteria found in the soil that bind them together start to decline, which creates an additional problem in soil erosion. Regular use of chemical fertilizers, inorganic fertilizers, pesticides will decrease the fertility of the soil and alter the structure of soil. This will lead to a decrease in soil quality and poor quality of crops. The fertility of the soil diminishes slowly, making land unsuitable for agriculture and any local vegetation to survive.

Effects on the Ecosystem

The soil is an important habitat for different types of microorganisms, birds, and insects. Thus, change in the chemistry of soil can negatively impact the lives of living organisms and can result in the gradual death of many organisms. 

Possible Solutions to Soil Pollution

Soil pollution is a complex issue that must be addressed. It is important that we all understand the importance of soil to our survival. The earlier we recognize the problem, the simpler it will be to solve the problem of soil pollution. It’s a complicated problem that requires everyone’s participation, from individuals to the government. A few methods for reducing soil pollution are listed below.

Reduced Use of Chemical Fertilizers

Chemical fertilizers are more damaging than helpful. While the right quantity can help the soil become more fertile, too much might potentially poison it. Chemical fertilizers in excess could harm the soil in a variety of ways. It has the ability to affect the soil’s pH values.

Reforestation and Afforestation Should be Promoted

Soil erosion, which is produced by deforestation, is one of the major sources of soil pollution. With an ever-increasing population, it is only logical that mankind requires more and more room to expand their civilization. It is frequently accomplished at the expense of soil health. Reforestation of a deforested area should be encouraged to prevent this from happening.

Recycle and Reuse Products

These measures not only reduce waste output, but they also reduce soil pollution. Plastic now makes up a significant portion of the waste flow. The great majority of these wastes are buried in landfills.

Promote Use of Natural Manure

One of the best sources of nutrients for the soil is natural manure. It’s 100% natural and safe. It restores the soil’s critical nutrients and improves its overall health. It doesn’t produce any toxic by-products that could harm the soil or the environment.