Question

Describe how the four most common chemicals weather materials. Provide examples

Answer 1

Carbonation-As rain goes through the air and into the ground, it grabs carbon dioxide, creating carbonic acid. This weak acid reacts with the calcium carbonate in stones when it seeps into the cracks.

Oxidation- Rust forms when the iron or steel in your car reacts with the oxygen in the air to form iron oxide. The resulting red substance can be quite brittle, so much so that you could literally poke a hole in it with your finger. Rocks with iron can go through the same process, too.

Hydration- Hydration is a type of chemical weathering where water reacts chemically with the rock, modifying its chemical structure.

Acidification-Acid rain is water with sulfuric and nitric acids from the burning of coal and fossil fuels, along with volcano eruptions. The acids create a reaction when they hit the stone, causing the surface to wear and the composition to soften. Acidification can also be caused by organisms like lichens, which are created from algae and fungi.

Answer 2

Chemical weathering occurs when water dissolves minerals in a rock, producing new compounds. ... Hydrolysis occurs, for example, when water comes in contact with granite. Feldspar crystals inside the granite react chemically, forming clay minerals. The clay weakens the rock, making it more likely to break.