Water is a crucial agent of chemical weathering, primarily through processes like hydrolysis and oxidation. In hydrolysis, water reacts with minerals, particularly feldspar, to form clay minerals and soluble ions, breaking down the rock's structure. Additionally, water facilitates oxidation by dissolving oxygen and aiding its reaction with minerals, such as iron-bearing rocks, resulting in the formation of rust (iron oxides) and further disintegration of the rock. These processes illustrate how water not only contributes to the mechanical breakdown of rocks but also fundamentally alters their chemical composition.
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.(
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