Definition of Weathering

Which of the following is NOT a category of weathering?

• Mechanical weathering

• Chemical weathering

• Biological weathering

• Thermal weathering

What is Chemical weathering?

• Caused by wind, sand, rain, freezing, thawing, and other natural forces

• Occurs when rocks undergo chemical reactions to form new minerals

• Caused by the actions of plants and animals

Fill in the blank: Biological weathering is caused by the actions of _______ as they grow, nest, and burrow.

• plants and animals

• wind and water

• sunlight and temperature

• rocks and minerals

What is physical weathering?

• A) The chemical breakdown of rocks

• B) The mechanical breakdown of rocks into smaller fragments without a change in chemical composition

• C) The addition of chemical elements to rocks

• D) The subtraction of chemical elements from rocks

Fill in the blank: Physical weathering involves breaking the rock into sub-domains, large mass to smaller material without changes to the ______ properties of the rock.

• mineral

• chemical

• biological

• structural

What is another physical force that contributes to mechanical weathering?

• Gravity

• Magnetism

• Friction

• Nuclear force

The growth of salt affects rocks physically by causing:

• Erosion

• Expansion and cracking

• Color change

• Melting

Which of the following is a process of chemical weathering?

• Hydration

• Combustion

• Fermentation

• Condensation

Explain the process of hydrolysis using feldspar as an example.

• Hydrolysis of feldspar involves the reaction with water, leading to the formation of clay minerals and soluble ions.

• Hydrolysis of feldspar involves the reaction with oxygen, leading to the formation of rust.

• Hydrolysis of feldspar involves the reaction with carbon dioxide, leading to the formation of carbonates.

• Hydrolysis of feldspar involves the reaction with nitrogen, leading to the formation of nitrates.

What happens when water comes in contact with granite?

• The granite dissolves completely

• The granite remains unchanged

• The granite becomes softer

• The granite changes color