Question

Under what soil condition do you think a farmer would treat the soil of his fields with quick lime (calcium oxide) or slaked lime (calcium hydroxide) or chalk (calcium carbonate)?

Answer 1

We know that quicklime, slaked lime and chalk are basic in nature. When we react bases with acids, the neutralization reaction occurs. We can say that an acid-base reaction is a type of double displacement reaction where the chemical reaction between an acid and a base is called a neutralization reaction. The ionic compound formed along with water in this reaction is called salt.

Complete step by step answer:
In our daily life, we use natural acids like curd, lemon juice, vinegar and orange juice. These substances contain sour taste and their chemical nature is acidic.
Substances like baking soda have no sour taste whereas they feel bitter. It feels soapy and because of this nature they are known as bases. We can say that the chemical nature of soapy and bitter substances is basic.
Quicklime is calcium oxide, slaked lime is calcium hydroxide, and chalk is calcium carbonate.
We have to know that for the growth of plants, the pH required by the soil ranges from 5.5-7. So, if the soil is very acidic, it is not suitable for cultivation. The farmer could treat the soil with quicklime (or) chalk (or) slaked lime to increase the soil’s basicity.

Note:
We must remember that the formation of salt and water takes place when acid and base reacts with each other, the acid gets neutralized by the base. We can call it a neutralization reaction, and heat is released. The formation of new bonds in the reaction takes place due to the release of heat. Stronger the amount of acid and base, the more heat is liberated.