Which cation would you expect to be mostly tightly held in a soil at pH 4.5? A)K⁺ B)Ca²⁺ C)Al³⁺ D)Mg²⁺ E)Na⁺

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At pH 4.5, the soil is acidic and therefore has a higher concentration of H+ ions. In an acidic soil, aluminum cations (Al3+) are tightly held because they form stable complexes with the negatively charged soil particles, making them less leachable. Therefore, we would expect the Al³⁺ cation to be the most tightly held in the soil at pH 4.5.

Which Cation Would You Expect to Be Mostly Tightly Held