Mechanical and Chemical Weathering Review Flashcard :)

Front

What is chemical weathering?

Back

Chemical weathering is the process where chemical reactions change the materials that hold rocks together, forming new substances.

Front

What is weathering?

Back

Weathering is the mechanical and chemical processes that change objects on Earth's surface over time.

Front

What type of weathering is hydrolysis?

Back

Hydrolysis is a type of chemical weathering.

Front

True or False: Sediment could take thousands of years to be made.

Back

True.

Front

What is mechanical weathering?

Back

Mechanical weathering is the process where rocks are broken down into smaller and smaller pieces by physical processes.

Front

What is the main difference between mechanical and chemical weathering?

Back

Mechanical weathering physically breaks rocks into smaller pieces without changing their chemical composition, while chemical weathering alters the minerals within the rocks.

Front

Give an example of a process that causes mechanical weathering.

Back

Frost wedging, where water seeps into cracks in rocks, freezes, and expands, causing the rock to break apart.

Front

What role does acid rain play in weathering?

Back

Acid rain can accelerate chemical weathering by reacting with minerals in rocks and breaking them down.

Front

What is oxidation in the context of weathering?

Back

Oxidation is a chemical weathering process where oxygen reacts with minerals, often leading to rusting in iron-rich rocks.

Front

How does temperature affect weathering?

Back

Temperature changes can cause rocks to expand and contract, leading to mechanical weathering.