Chapter

Phyllosilicate Colloids and their Surface Chemistry

From Introduction to Soil Science by Amber Anderson and Rivka Fidel

Concepts

1. Phyllosilicates

   "Phyllosilicates are crystalline silicate clays with atoms arranged in repeating, paper-like layers that contain silicate tetrahedra. In 1:1 phyllosilicates, one tetrahedral sheet alternates with one

2. Phyllosilicates Develop

   "Permanent charge develops through isomorphous substitution, in which a similarly sized cation with a lower positive charge replaces another cation within the crystal structure. Because these substitu

3. Phyllosilicates Swell

   "Water can enter the interlayers of some 2:1 phyllosilicates, causing the layers to expand. Vermiculite swells moderately, while smectite can swell substantially because its interlayer cations do not