Question

Is soil a pure substance or mixture

Answer 1

 soils is a heterogeneous mixture of sand, clay, organic substances like dead plant material and water.

Answer 2

Soil is not a pure substance but a mixture. This mixture is quite complex in its composition.

The components and composition of soil can be categorised in the following ways:

a. Organic and Inorganic

b. Biotic and Abiotic

Organic constitution of soil comes from various dead decaying parts of plants and animals. The inorganic constituents of soil come from the minerals and chemicals that come from disintegration of parent rock and other external factors like agricultural runoffs and acid rains.

The Biotic constitution of soil consists of small insects and microorganisms that make their habitat in soil. Bigger burrowing animals can also be present. The abiotic constituents are clay particles, sand, gravel, minerals, temperature, moisture, etc.