Which cations are generally less mobile than anions in soil?

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In soil, cations are generally considered less mobile than anions due to their interaction with negatively charged soil particles, such as clay and organic matter. This strong attraction keeps cations more localized in the soil matrix, limiting their movement through the soil profile.

Anions, which carry a negative charge, are less tightly bound to the soil particles and can move more freely with soil water. This difference in mobility affects how nutrients are absorbed by plants, as plants often rely more on the availability of cations that must be taken up from the soil solution surrounding their roots.

While the specific examples of cations like calcium and potassium illustrate this characteristic, the principle applies broadly to all cations as a group. Therefore, saying that cations, in general, are less mobile than anions captures the overarching trend in soil chemistry, making this answer correct.

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