Chemical

Weathering
Quarter 4 Week 1 Day 3
What are the agents of
mechanical weathering?
Why there is a hole in the bolder?
 Weathering is an important
process that helps shape the
surface of the Earth. Weathering
is the breaking up of rocks into
smaller pieces or particles.
It includes two processes,
disintegration and
decomposition.
 The disintegration of rocks is a
physical process of breaking down
rocks into fragments, while the
decomposition of rocks is the chemical
reaction of the minerals present in
rocks when exposed to air and water.
 Chemical Weathering involves a
change in the composition of rocks
that allows them break down into
pieces. The following are the agents of
chemical weathering.
1. Water and air- Most weathering of
rocks is caused by water and air.
Water can dissolve minerals out of a
rock and weakens its structure. It also
reacts with some minerals, creating
different minerals.
2. Carbon Dioxide- Chemical weathering
can result when carbon dioxide combines
with water and forms carbonic acid. When
carbonic acid comes in contact with a rock,
it dissolves some minerals and weakens the
rock’s structure.
3. Oxygen- Oxygen causes chemical
weathering by oxidation. Oxidation is
a chemical process in which oxygen
combines with another substance.
Oxygen reacts readily with rocks
containing iron.
4. Acid- There are other acids besides
carbonic acid that can weather a rock.
These acids dissolve in water and soak
the rocks which gradually turn them
into soil.
 Chemical weathering
(especially hydrolysis and
oxidation) is the first stage in
the
production of soils.
a. Solution - removal of rock in
solution by acidic rainwater. In
particular, limestone is weathered by
rainwater containing dissolved CO2,
(this process is sometimes called
carbonation).
b. Hydrolysis - the breakdown of rock
by acidic water to produce clay and
soluble salts.
c. Oxidation - the breakdown of rock
by oxygen and water, often giving
iron-rich rocks a rusty-colored
weathered surface.
Oxidation
Hydrolysis
Carbonation
Write TRUE if the statement is
correct about chemical
weathering, FALSE if not.
________1. Chemical Weathering
involves a change in the
composition of rocks that allows
them break down into pieces.
________2. Chemical weathering can
result when carbon dioxide combines with
water and forms carbonic acid. When
carbonic acid comes in contact with a rock,
it dissolves some minerals and weakens the
rock’s structure.
________3. Oxygen causes
chemical weathering by oxidation.
________4. There are other acids
besides carbonic acid that can
weather a rock.
_________5. Animals and plants
are agents of chemical weathering.
 True
________1. Chemical Weathering
involves a change in the
composition of rocks that allows
them break down into pieces.
 True
________2. Chemical weathering can
result when carbon dioxide combines with
water and forms carbonic acid. When
carbonic acid comes in contact with a rock,
it dissolves some minerals and weakens the
rock’s structure.
 True
________3. Oxygen causes
chemical weathering by oxidation.
________4. There are other acids
True carbonic acid that can
besides
weather a rock.
 False
_________5. Animals and plants
are agents of chemical weathering.