Final answer:
Leaching is the process by which groundwater traveling through the soil dissolves and carries substances to deeper layers of the soil.
Step-by-step explanation:
The process by which ground water traveling through the soil dissolves and carries substances to deeper layers of the soil is known as leaching. Leaching occurs when water percolates through the soil, carrying soluble substances such as minerals, nutrients, and pollutants with it. These substances are then transported to deeper layers of the soil or may eventually reach bodies of water such as lakes or the ocean.
Leaching is distinct from precipitation, which is the return of water to Earth's surface from the atmosphere; weathering, which is the breakdown of rocks and minerals by various physical and chemical processes; and soil deposition, which refers to the accumulation of soil material deposited by wind or water.