Chapter 7 Flashcards
Water
Water molecules
Formed by covalent bonding of two hydrogen atoms to an oxygen atom.
Acid
Water with more hydrogen ions than pure water.
Alkaline or basic
Concentration of hydrogen ions is even lower than that of pure water.
pH
Defined as minus the log (to base 10) of the hydrogen ion concentration. 7 is neutral, 6 is acid and 8 is alkaline.
Triple point for water
Where all three phases can exist in equilibrium together.
Ice
Solid form of water and a crystalline substance.
Liquid water
Disordered structure, but molecules are still held together by hydrogen bonds.
Regolith
Weathered material that is still more or less in place. If it contains plant material it is called soil.
Frost Action or frost wedging
When water penetrates into cracks and crevices in the surface of the Geosphere, and then freezes, these forces help to break apart rocks.
Frost heaving
Horizontal cracks; expansion of ice lifts the ground surface.
Abrasion
Fragments that travel at high speed and may cause further weathering as they are hurled at rock surfaces.
Calcium carbonate
Main component of limestone
Clay minerals (kaolinite)
Minerals produced by hydrolysis reactions tend to be very fine-grained.
Bed Load
The sediment carried by rolling, sliding and saltation.
Suspended load
Swirling movements cause turbulence causing an upward flow of fine-grained sediments.
