Answer
Clays become hydroplastic when water is added because the water molecules occupy regions between the layered molecular sheets. These water molecules essentially eliminate the secondary molecular bonds between adjacent sheets and also form a thin film around the clay particles. The net result is that the clay particles are relatively free to move past one another which is manifested as the hydroplasticity phenomenon.
Work Step by Step
Clays become hydroplastic when water is added because the water molecules occupy regions between the layered molecular sheets. These water molecules essentially eliminate the secondary molecular bonds between adjacent sheets and also form a thin film around the clay particles. The net result is that the clay particles are relatively free to move past one another which is manifested as the hydroplasticity phenomenon.
