When we add organic matter in the form of biochar or compost to acidic soils, the organic materials decompose and release alkalinity such as carbonates, organic anions, inorganic anions, organic surface functional groups, and other organic compounds to the soil to neutralise acidity and raise soil pH. However, all the organic compounds generated from organic materials are not soluble in water to raise soil pH.
Which of these organic compounds or others not mentioned here, which are derived from organic materials, are soluble only in acids such as 0.5 M HCl and which of them are soluble in water as well?
I appreciate your time to answer this discussion question.
This could be a large organic molecule with pKa around 3-4. Tris-bipyridyl is an example.
The solubility of organic compounds derived from organic materials added to acidic soils can vary depending on their chemical structure and functional groups. Some organic compounds may be soluble only in acids such as 0.5 M HCl, while others may be soluble in water as well.
For example, humic acids and fulvic acids are organic compounds commonly found in compost and biochar, and they are known to be soluble in both water and acid. These organic acids have carboxylic and phenolic functional groups that can dissociate in water or acid, releasing H+ ions and contributing to soil acidity neutralization.
On the other hand, some organic compounds derived from organic materials may be soluble only in acids such as 0.5 M HCl, due to their chemical structure or functional groups. For instance, some organic acids may have bulky or hydrophobic structures that hinder their solubility in water, but they can dissolve in acid due to the protonation of their functional groups.
Additionally, some organic compounds derived from organic materials may not be soluble in either water or acid, such as certain lignin compounds or insoluble fibers. These compounds can still contribute to soil nutrient and carbon cycling through their slow degradation by soil microorganisms and physical breakdown by soil processes.
It is important to note that the solubility of organic compounds derived from organic materials can also be influenced by other factors, such as soil pH, temperature, and microbial activity. Therefore, it is recommended to conduct soil tests and monitor soil parameters to evaluate the effectiveness of organic amendments in raising soil pH and improving soil fertility.
Yuri, Thank you for the information. Is tris-bipyridyl an organic compound found in organic materials?
Manpreet, you provided with a detail outlook into the organic compounds solubility. Can we say all organic compounds with phenolic functional groups soluble in both HCl and water?
I read that organic compounds with acid or base functional groups as well as amines are not soluble in water. Anyone who can help in this idea please.
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