8.1 Mechanical and Chemical Weathering

Question 1

Acid

Answer 1

A water solution that contains an excess of hydrogen (H+) ions which may attack and break chemical bonds, accelerating the chemical breakdown of minerals.

Question 2

Chemical weathering

Answer 2

Weathering that involves the transformation of original minerals into new minerals. Water is usually involved.

Question 3

Dissolution

Answer 3

Chemical weathering in which minerals are dissolved in water to produce ions in the water.

Question 4

Frost wedging

Answer 4

The mechanical weathering of rocks caused by the formation of ice in cracks.

Question 5

Hydrolysis

Answer 5

Chemical weathering of minerals by a chemical reaction with water to produce new minerals.

Question 6

Mechanical weathering

Answer 6

The processes that break rock into smaller pieces without changing the composition of the minerals the rock is made of.

Question 7

Oxidation

Answer 7

Chemical weathering in which metal ions react with oxygen to form new minerals (oxides).

Question 8

Spheroidal weathering

Answer 8

Weathering that occurs in fractured rocks in which originally rectangular blocks become round boulders over time.

Question 9

Talus

Answer 9

Angular boulders that accumulate in a pile at the foot of a cliff or steep slope.

Question 10

Unloading

Answer 10

The mechanical weathering process which fractures rocks due to a reduction of pressure on the rocks when overlying rocks are eroded away.