What is chemical weathering?

Chemical weathering is a process that occurs when water, air or acids result in chemical changes in minerals inside rocks. These changes cause the rocks to dissolve or turn into new elements. Unlike mechanical weathering, chemical weathering can change the make -up of weathered rocks. Solution, oxidation, hydration, carbonation and hydrolysis are examples of this type of weathering. Water can have several chemical effects on weather weathering on rocks. When the minerals inside the rock absorb water and expand, the rocks structure become unstable. This effect is known as hydration.

While most minerals are not soluble in clean water, many of them quickly when even a small amount of acid is present. Water is naturally an acidic combination with carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide occurs in small amounts in the Earth's atmosphere, which can cause acidity in the rain. Breathing animals and decaying organic matter can add oxide u to soil u soilHlitý, causing groundwater to become slightly acidic. Karbojice occurs when carbon dioxide reacts with minerals in the rocks to dissolve or weaken them. Rust is an example of oxidation. Oxygen is abundant in the atmosphere, but oxidation occurs slowly if water is not present. Oxygen dissolved in water causes a majority of oxidation weathering.

hydrolysis takes place when minerals inside the rock have a chemical reaction to hydrogen found in rainwater. This causes new compounds to form and weaken the structure of the rock. For example, when the granite undergoes hydrolysis, the feldspar contained in the rock turns into clay material and weakens the rock.

When hydrolysis occurs, the rock is affected by T from Ton outside. Many factors affect the rate of chemical weathering on the rock surface. If the rock contains cracks or fractures, the weathering deteriorates these errors. Also influence the chemical composition of parental materialUsing the speed of weathering. Some minerals are more vulnerable to such forms of weathering; For example, a rock known as basalt weathering quickly due to the chemically unstable minerals it contains.

Chemical weathering is in a tropical environment prevailing than in an arctic or arid environment. High amounts of precipitation, warmer temperatures and low evaporation speed create an atmosphere that promotes chemical weathering. Chemical weathering than smaller surface surface particles are more at risk of larger surface surfaces. Since chemical weathering affects the surface of the stone, the larger the surface of the stone, the greater the effect that the weathering can have. Organisms such as mushrooms or algae that can grow on the rocks may stimulate rapid increase in weathering compared to rocks that are not affected by these organisms.