Question

Water plays an important role in the chemical weathering of rock. In 3–5 sentences, identify and explain two agents of chemical weathering to support that statement.(4 points)

Answer 1

Two agents of chemical weathering that support the statement are oxidation and hydrolysis. Oxidation occurs when oxygen in the presence of water reacts with certain minerals, causing them to break down. This can result in the formation of rust or other types of oxidation products. Hydrolysis occurs when water breaks down minerals by chemically reacting with them, leading to the formation of new minerals or dissolution of existing ones. Overall, water acts as a catalyst for these chemical reactions, accelerating the process of rock weathering.