Chemical Weathering

Chemical weathering is described as the breakdown of rocks and minerals by changing the chemical composition of water, carbon dioxide, oxygen and other compounds.

Weathering is a process in which rocks are broken or chemically converted into sediments. This process can be further divided into two categories: physical / mechanical weathering and chemical weathering. Chemical weathering is the process by which rocks react with the atmosphere to form new materials. These reactions can change the rock and turn the rock into sand, clay and other minerals. As with mechanical weathering, there are also several different types of chemical weathering. One type is oxidation, the reaction of iron-containing minerals and oxygen in rocks. In the oxidation reaction, the iron atom loses electrons and precipitates as another mineral. Probably the most famous oxidation reaction is rust. Let's consider another reaction to oxidize pyroxene to limonite and dissolved silica as follows.

Let's see. Chemical weathering is the process of decomposing rocks by chemical reactions. There are various kinds of chemical weathering. Hydrolysis is the chemical decomposition of a substance when combined with water. An example of the most common hydrolysis is that feldspar in the granite turns into clay. Oxidation is the reaction between matter and oxygen. This is the process that causes rust. When the iron in the rock reacts with oxygen, it forms iron oxide, which weakens the rock. Carbonation is a mixture of water and carbon dioxide to produce carbonic acid. This type of weathering is important for cave formation.

Hydrolysis is a chemically weathered form because water is chemically bonded to rock minerals and weaker substances may be obtained. The weathering of feldspar that becomes clay when it reacts with water is one of the most common examples of hydrolysis. Ion is dissolved in feldspar which is a mineral common in granite. These ions react with water to form clay minerals. When minerals absorb water and form new substances, hydration occurs. Hydration expands the volume of the rock. This applies pressure to the rock and makes it susceptible to other kinds of weathering effects including mechanical weathering. Two examples of hydration include gypsum formation from anhydrous gypsum and formation of limonite from hematite.