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Glossary:Disperse
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- To break up compound particles, such as aggregates, into the individual component particles.
- To distribute or suspend fine particles, such as clay, in or throughout a dispersion medium, such·as water. Dispersion is an electro-chemically induced process which results in physical movement of clay particles. Dispersion in soil is the reverse process to aggregation. When freshwater is applied after a saltwater spill, it dilutes and leaches the total salt concentration in the soil solution leaving mostly sodium cations to balance electrically the cation exchange sites. This condition of dilute total salts consisting of predominantly sodium cations causes clay particles to repel from each other and migrate into pore spaces thereby clogging pores.