Final answer:
Oxidation produces compounds that are more susceptible to erosion than their unoxidized counterparts, making the statement true. The formation of metal and nonmetal oxides after reactions with water can change rock chemistry and contribute to increased erosion.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that oxidation produces compounds which are more easily eroded than the original rock is true. Oxidation refers to the chemical reaction where materials, such as rocks, interact with oxygen, leading to changes in their chemical composition. When rocks undergo oxidation, they often form oxides, which are generally more susceptible to erosion. This is especially true for iron-containing rocks, where oxidation leads to the formation of iron oxides, commonly known as rust, which is more fragile and easily crumbled compared to the unoxidized rock.
Oxidation reactions also contribute to the breakdown of other minerals and rocks. For example, metal oxides can react with water to produce basic solutions, leading to altered rock chemistry that might be more prone to erosion. In contrast, nonmetal oxides tend to produce acidic solutions when they react with water, another pathway to increased erosion of the surrounding rock material.