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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)

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Water is central to chemical weathering because it directly reacts with minerals and also dissolves gases that form acids. One agent is hydrolysis, where water chemically breaks down silicate minerals (for example, converting feldspar into clay), weakening rock structure. A second agent is carbonic acid (formed when CO2 dissolves in water), which dissolves carbonate rocks like limestone and enhances mineral breakdown. Both processes depend on liquid water to transport ions and sustain the chemical reactions.