Surface Properties and Related Phenomena in Soils and Plants

Definition

A surface phenomenon is a phenomenon that takes place on or near a surface, that is, in a common boundary among contacting phases (including solid–liquid, solid–gas, and liquid–gas interfaces). The specific properties of surfaces of plant tissues and of mineral and organic surfaces occurring in soils result from their complex chemical buildup, large area and charge, and primarily, from a range of interactions (forces) between the molecules present in the interfaces.

Intermolecular interactions

Chemical forces. The contacting molecules may form a chemical compound at the join. The strongest bonds are where atoms of the two materials swap (ionic bonding) or share (covalent bonding) outer electrons. These attractive forces are effective only over very small distances, less than a nanometer. A weaker bond is formed if an (electron poor) hydrogen atom in one molecule is attracted to a free electron pair of, for example, nitrogen, oxygen, or fluorine atom in another molecule,...