The fine particles in clay largely accounts for its properties, many of … Soil particles (sand, silt, clay and even organic matter) bind together to form peds. Texture Clay soil has a distinctive texture. Clay mineral - Clay mineral - Chemical and physical properties: Depending on deficiency in the positive or negative charge balance (locally or overall) of mineral structures, clay minerals are able to adsorb certain cations and anions and retain them around the outside of the structural unit in an exchangeable state, generally without affecting the basic silicate structure. When it is wet, it can be sculpted and molded into different shapes.

When dry, it holds its shape and does not crumble like sand.

Soils are usually divided into three types, depending on the size of particles they contain. Sand is the coarsest soil, silt is medium course and clay is made of fine mineral particles.

), the ped has a specific shape.

Depending on the composition and on the conditions in which the peds formed (getting wet and drying out, or freezing and thawing, foot traffic, farming, etc. Properties of Clay Soil. Clay soil responds differently to water, has a unique texture and affects the roots of garden plants in a way that other kinds of soil do not. Though different soils have a wide range of colors, textures and other distinguishing features, there are only three types of soil particles that geologists consider distinct. The properties of clay soil are distinctive, and even a child can learn how the clay soil is different from compost, hummus or other types of soil.