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Chemical weathering, also known as decomposition or decay, is the breakdown of rock by chemical mechanisms. Chemical weathering does not break rocks into smaller fragments through wind, water, and ice (that's physical weathering). Nor does it break rocks apart through the action of plants or animals (that's biological weathering).
“Chemical weathering changes the composition of rocks, often transforming them when water interacts with minerals to create various chemical reactions. Chemical weathering is a gradual and ongoing process as the mineralogy of the rock adjusts to the near surface environment.
Chemical weathering is caused by rocks undergoing chemical reactions to form new minerals. Water, acids, and oxygen are just a few of the chemicals that lead to geological change (weathering). Over time, chemical weathering can produce dramatic results.
Chemical weathering is the main process that drives the carbonate-silicate geochemical cycle. Figure 2 shows how this cycle controls the long term transformation of silicate rocks into carbonate rocks over geologic time.
weathering, disintegration or alteration of rock in its natural or original position at or near the Earth’s surface through physical, chemical, and biological processes induced or modified by wind, water, and climate.
Chemical weathering results from chemical changes to minerals that become unstable when they are exposed to surface conditions. The kinds of changes that take place are highly specific to the mineral and the environmental conditions.
Chemical weathering results from the chemical changes to some minerals that become unstable when they are exposed to surface conditions. The kinds of changes that take place are highly specific to the mineral and to the environmental conditions.
Chemical Weathering. Chemical weathering changes the molecular structure of rocks and soil. For instance, carbon dioxide from the air or soil sometimes combines with water in a process called carbonation. This produces a weak acid, called carbonic acid, that can dissolve rock.
Chemical processes need water, occurring more rapidly at higher temperature, so they are more common in warm and wet climates. There are different types of chemical weathering processes, such as solution, hydration, hydrolysis, carbonation, oxidation, reduction, and chelation.
Chemical weathering may be defined as the spontaneous and irreversible thermodynamic process that causes degradation of the mineral phases under the prevailing environmental conditions at the surface of the Earth.