Final answer:
Weathering is the process of decomposing, breaking up, or changing the color of rocks through physical or chemical processes. It contributes to the formation of soil, recycling of nutrients, and shaping of Earth's surface.
Step-by-step explanation:
The process of decomposing, breaking up, or changing the color of rocks is known as weathering. Weathering can occur through physical or chemical processes. Physical weathering involves the breaking apart of rocks due to mechanical forces such as temperature changes, frost action, and the growth of plant roots. Chemical weathering involves the alteration of rock composition and color through chemical reactions with substances like water, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and acids.
An example of physical weathering is when water freezes and expands in the cracks of a rock, causing the rock to break apart. An example of chemical weathering is when carbon dioxide in the air reacts with minerals in rocks, leading to the formation of carbonic acid, which can dissolve the rock.
Weathering is an important process because it contributes to the formation of soil and the recycling of nutrients necessary for plant growth. It also plays a role in the shaping of Earth's surface over long periods of time.