Question

Which agents cause both chemical and physical weathering

Answer 1

Water, temperature, and biological factors like plant roots are agents that cause both chemical and physical weathering, as they can lead to dissolution, cracking, and fragmentation of rocks, contributing to soil formation.

Step-by-step explanation:

Agents that cause both chemical and physical weathering include water, temperature, and biological factors such as plant roots. Water is a significant agent as it can lead to chemical weathering through dissolving minerals and transporting them away, and it can cause physical weathering by freezing and thawing, which mechanically breaks rock apart. Temperature fluctuations can expand and contract rocks, leading to cracking and fragmentation, while plant roots can grow into fractures in rocks and pry them apart, furthering both chemical and physical weathering processes.

Climatic conditions, such as moisture and wind, also play a critical role, as they influence weathering patterns, soil characteristics, and biological activity, which is crucial for developing quality soil rich in nutrients from weathered materials.

Answer 2

Weathering is the process by which rocks are broken down by either physical or chemical means. Physical weathering involves physical factors that cause mechanical break down of rocks while chemical weathering involves chemical reactions between the contents of the rocks and other factors such air (oxygen). Agents of weathering are the factors that cause or enhance both physical and chemical weathering. Some of these factors cause both physical and chemical weathering these includes water and temperature.