Final answer:
The statement is false; both mechanical and chemical weathering contribute to rock breakdown, but they do so through different mechanisms.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement 'Mechanical weathering is more effective than chemical weathering in the breakdown of the individual grains of a large rock' is false. Mechanical and chemical weathering are two distinct processes that affect rocks in different ways. Mechanical weathering physically breaks down rock into smaller pieces without altering the rock's mineral composition, through processes like freezing and thawing, root growth, and abrasion by other rocks. On the other hand, chemical weathering involves the alteration of the rock's minerals or chemical composition due to reactions with water, acids, and gases in the atmosphere or soil. Both types of weathering play important roles in the disintegration of rocks into sediment.