What is the Difference Between Cation Exchange Capacity and Anion Exchange Capacity?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The key difference between cation exchange capacity (CEC) and anion exchange capacity (AEC) lies in the charges of the ions they attract. CEC represents the quantity of negative charge available to attract cations, while AEC represents the positive charge available to attract anions in solution.
- Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC): This is the measurement of the number of cations that can be retained on soil particles or other surfaces. Cations are positively charged particles, and they can be exchanged with other cations in the soil solution. Soils with a high CEC can hold onto more positive nutrients and deliver them to the plant when needed.
- Anion Exchange Capacity (AEC): This is the number of negative charges that are retained by 100 grams of soil. Anions are negatively charged particles, and they can be exchanged with other anions in the soil solution. Soils with a high AEC can hold onto more negatively charged nutrients and deliver them to the plant when needed.
In summary, CEC is related to the soil's ability to attract and retain positively charged ions (cations), while AEC is related to the soil's ability to attract and retain negatively charged ions (anions).
On this pageWhat is the Difference Between Cation Exchange Capacity and Anion Exchange Capacity? Comparative Table: Cation Exchange Capacity vs Anion Exchange Capacity
Comparative Table: Cation Exchange Capacity vs Anion Exchange Capacity
The key difference between cation exchange capacity and anion exchange capacity lies in the types of ions they attract and retain in the soil. Here is a table summarizing the differences between the two:
Property | Cation Exchange Capacity | Anion Exchange Capacity |
---|---|---|
Definition | The ability of a soil to retain positively charged ions (cations). | The ability of a soil to retain negatively charged ions (anions). |
Examples of ions | Cations: Calcium (Ca++), Magnesium (Mg++), Potassium (K+). | Anions: Sulphate, Nitrate, Phosphate. |
Units | Measured in milliequivalents (meq) per 100 grams of soil. | Expressed as the number of negative charges that are retained by 100 grams of soil. |
Importance | Determines soil fertility and the exchange of cationic nutrients. | Affects the availability of anionic nutrients to plants. |
Relationship | Cation exchange capacity is often directly related to the soil's clay and organic matter content. | Anion exchange capacity is not mentioned as often as cation exchange capacity, but it plays a crucial role in the availability of anionic nutrients to plants. |
Read more:
- Anion vs Cation
- Cationic vs Anionic Polyelectrolyte
- Ion Exchange vs Size Exclusion Chromatography
- Cationic vs Anionic Dyes
- Ion Pair vs Ion Exchange Chromatography
- Affinity vs Ion Exchange Chromatography
- Zeolite vs Ion Exchange Process
- Ion Exchange vs Reverse Osmosis
- Ionic Equilibrium vs Chemical Equilibrium
- Anolyte vs Catholyte
- Ion Channel vs Transporter
- Volume vs Capacity
- Ability vs Capacity
- Adsorption vs Desorption
- Anode vs Cathode
- Isotope vs Ion
- Capacity vs Capability
- Anionic Cationic vs Nonionic Surfactants
- Ion Channel vs Ion Pump