Usually, sand consists of minerals such as garnet, amphiboles, rutile, zircon, topaz, etc. Sand is used in the preparation of sandpaper, cement, mortar, air filters, glass, concrete, molds, etc. Have you ever wondered if sand absorbs water? If yes, then join the break with me. It’s an interesting topic; is it true that sand absorbs water? This is a popular myth about sand. So, does sand absorb water? Yes, sand absorbs water. The sand particles are porous and usually filled with air when dry. As soon as these particles come in contact with water the air-filled cavities get filled with water. Hence, sand absorbs water. However, the sand particles are quite large in size due to which they have high permeability and low surface area. Due to high permeability water easily runs down through the sand and the low surface area only allows a small number of water molecules to adhere to sand particles and get absorbed. So, the water absorption capacity of sand is low.
Why Does Sand Absorb Water?
Absorption can be referred to as a physical or chemical process in which the atoms, ions, or molecules of a substance adhere to the atoms, or molecules of another substance. The substance that absorbs the other substance is also known as the bulk phase and can be present in either the solid, liquid, or gas phase. The absorption capacity of any substance depends upon the surface area of its particles and the overall permeability of the substance.
Here, we must understand that both the permeability as well as surface area depends upon the particle size of any substance. The larger the particle size, the higher is the permeability and the lower is the surface area. Many different types of sand are known to occur worldwide. The particle size also differs in different types of sand. For example, dune sand is finer and absorbs more quantity of water in comparison to beach sand which is coarse. However, in any kind of sand, the sand granules are quite large in size compared to other types of soils due to which they have a small surface area available for absorption of water. Also, owing to the large size of the particles the permeability of sand is high. Hence, the water absorption capacity of sand is very low as most of the water is drained downward through the spaces present in between the sand granules. This is the reason sandy soil is not considered good for plants as most water percolates below leaving almost nothing for plants to absorb. The sand particles are hollow from the inside. The cavities are usually filled with air under dry conditions, however, when water is mixed with sand the air inside the particles is replaced with water. This is why sand absorbs water. Only 0.3% of the water is absorbed by the sand while the rest is drained down owing to its low absorption capacity for water.
Does Sand Hold Water?
The answer is no. Actually, the sand particles are quite large in size due to which it is very difficult for the water molecules to remain adhered to them. Water molecules easily bind to fine particles such as clay. Moreover, the organic content of the sand is very low. Therefore, as discussed in the previous section the permeability of sand is high due to which most of the water added to the sand is drained down while the remaining is absorbed by the particles. The water holding capacity of sand is almost negligible.
Do Sandbags Absorb Water?
The sandbags are made up of polypropylene bags filled with sand. They are still used as a traditional way to counter flood in many rural areas as they are known to absorb floodwater.
Actually, in sandbags, it is not only the sand that holds the water. Sand is a coarse material due to which it has enough space for water to pass through it. However, the floodwater is usually filled with clay, silt, and other such material, as this water runs over the sandbags these materials get trapped between the sand particles inside the bags making the sandbags heavier and sand muddier. This muddy sand does not let water percolate through it easily and almost blocks the entry of water when clay-like material stuff in. Hence, the absorption capacity of sandbags is similar to that of sand itself but the entire process explained above helps sandbags to act as effective barriers against flood.
Does Sand Absorb Water Better than Soil?
The absorption capacity of any soil depends upon its particle size, the smaller the size, the better is the water retention capacity of soil owing to large surface area and low permeability. The organic matter present in the soil also helps in better absorption of water. In the case of sand, the particle size is quite large in comparison to other soils such as clay, loam, etc.
Also, amongst different types of soil, the sand is known to contain the least amount of organic matter. Hence, the normal pot soil or garden soil absorbs water more efficiently in comparison to sand.
Which Soil Absorbs More Water?
Majorly, three types of soil are known to occur named as clay, loam, and sandy soil. Out of all these the clay soil is said to absorb the water in such high amounts in comparison to the other two types of soils. The clay particles are very small and fine-textured due to which it is easy for the water molecules to hold onto these particles. Sometimes the water molecules are bound so tightly that it is not possible for plants to use them. Also, the fine texture of clay soil does not let the water percolate down through it. The loam soil is a mixture of clay, silt, and sand particles, and is considered the best soil for plants. It absorbs water in adequate amounts and drains out excess water due to which both water and air are available for the plants. The sandy soil, on the other hand, has large particles due to which enough space is available between the particles to drain through them. Hence, it is not considered good for plant growth. The water holding capacity of sandy soil is around Therefore, out of the three types of soil the water retention capacity or absorption of water increases in the following sequence: Sand < Loam < Clay
To check the water holding capacity of different soils, it is taught in schools with the experiment using the percolation method. With this, the water holding capacity of different soils is measured. Check out the below video. Question: Does clay absorb water? Answer: The water absorption capacity of clay is maximum amongst all the soils. It is due to the large surface area available for the water molecules to adhere with clay particles. Does silt absorb water? Answer: The silt particles are fine in comparison to sand particles and are coarser in comparison to clay. However, they do absorb a sufficient amount of moisture required for the cultivation of various crops.
Properties of Sand
• Sand is composed of small rock particles ranging from 0.2 to 2 mm in size. • It is gritty in texture and water runs through it easily. • It absorbs the least amount of water in comparison to other types of soil. • Nutrients wash out quickly from sand owing to large particle size. • It warms up and dries quickly due to which it is not suitable for plantation.
Conclusion
Sand absorbs water owing to its porous particles. The water replaces the air in the cavity of sand particles. The amount of water retained by the sand is quite low in comparison to other varieties of soil. Sand cannot hold water owing to its large particle size through which water easily percolates downward. The particle size of clay is the smallest amongst all the soil types due to which it provides a maximum surface area for the water molecules to get absorbed. Also, it has low permeability, hence, absorbs the maximum amount of water. Amongst different soils the water absorption capacity increases in the following order: Sand < Loam < Clay Happy learning!!
