Question

Soil is the thin layer of material that covers Earth's surface. How is soil related to bedrock?

Answer 1

Soil is closely related to bedrock as it is formed from the weathering and breakdown of the underlying bedrock. Bedrock refers to the solid rock layer that lies beneath the soil. Over time, physical, chemical, and biological weathering processes act on the bedrock, breaking it down into smaller mineral particles. These particles are then mixed with organic matter, such as decaying plant and animal material, to form soil. Therefore, soil can be considered as the result of the gradual transformation of bedrock and represents the uppermost layer in which plants grow and many terrestrial organisms reside.