Lesson 4

Groundwater Weathering
and Deposition
 Focus Question

How does groundwater interact with the land?

 New Vocabulary

cave
sinkhole
karst topography
stalactite
stalagmite
 Review Vocabulary

hydrolysis: chemical reaction of water with other

substances
 Carbonic Acid

• Most groundwater is slightly acidic due to

carbonic acid.
• Carbonic acid forms when carbon dioxide gas
dissolves in water and combines with water
molecules.
 Dissolution by Groundwater

• The process by which carbonic acid forms and

dissolves calcite can be described by three
simple chemical reactions.
• In the first reaction, carbon dioxide (CO2) and
water (H2O) combine to form carbonic acid
(H2CO3 ).
CO2 + H2O → H2CO3
 Dissolution by Groundwater

• In the second reaction, carbonic acid splits

into hydrogen ions (H+) and bicarbonate ions
(HCO3–).
H2CO3 → H+ + HCO3–

• In the third reaction, the hydrogen ions (H+)

react with calcite (CaCO3) and form calcium
ions (Ca2+) and bicarbonate ions (HCO3–).
CaCO3 + H+ → Ca2+ + HCO3–
 Dissolution by Groundwater
• The processes of dissolving, called dissolution,
and precipitation of calcite both play a major
role in the formation of limestone caves.
• A natural underground opening with a
connection to Earth’s surface is called a cave or
cavern.
• As groundwater infiltrates the cracks and joints
of limestone formations, it gradually dissolves
the adjacent rock and enlarges these passages to
form an interconnected network of openings.
 Dissolution by Groundwater
• A sinkhole is a depression in the ground
caused by the collapse of a cave or by the
direct dissolution of limestone by acidic water.
• Limestone regions that have sinkholes and
disappearing streams are said to have karst
topography.
 Groundwater Deposits
• Dripstones are rock formations that are built
over time as water drips through caves.
• Each drop of water hanging on the ceiling of a
cave loses some carbon dioxide and
precipitates some calcite.
 Groundwater Deposits
• A form of dripstone, called a stalactite, hangs
from the cave’s ceiling like icicles and forms
gradually.
• As the water drips to the floor of the cave, it
may also slowly build mound-shaped
dripstones called stalagmites.
 Quiz

1. What forms when carbon dioxide dissolves in water?

A calcite

B acid rain

C carbonic acid CORRECT

D hydrogen ions
 Quiz
2. Which is a natural underground opening with a
connection to Earth’s surface?

A dripstone
B cave CORRECT

C stalactite
D stalagmite
 Quiz
3. Which is NOT associated with the dissolution of
limestone bedrock?

A delta CORRECT

B sinkhole

C disappearing stream

D karst topography
 Quiz
4. Which characteristics do most areas with karst
topography share?

A they are dry areas; limestone bedrock

B they are humid areas; granite bedrock

C they are humid areas; limestone bedrock CORRECT

D they are dry areas; granite bedrock