The field test for the quality of cement consists in putting a small quality of cement in a bucket containing water, a good quality cement will 

Concept:

The properties of a good cement are as follows:

a) When one thrusts one's hand into a bag of cement one should feel cool, because if it feels warm it means somehow heat of hydration releases that implies hydration reaction has already started and that is an indication of a bad cement.

b) The color of good cement always should be greyish.

c) A handful of cement thrown into a bucket of water should not sink immediately, because if it sinks immediately it indicates that cement has formed lumped mass which means there is the presence of moisture near cement bags and some portion of hydration reaction has already started which give rise to lumped mass.

Important Points