chemical weathering
Chemical Weathering
Chemical Weathering is weathering as a result of chemical reactions. Read on to know more...
Weathering is a process of the disintegration and degeneration of rocks minerals or soils as a result of direct contact with the atmosphere of the Earth. When weathering takes place as a result of chemical reactions, it is known as chemical weathering. In this process the rock disintegrates chemically as the chemicals in the atmospheric agents react with the chemicals of the rock and the resultant reaction brings about the weathering of the rock. The rate of weathering differs with variation in the chemical composition and structure.
Process
Chemical weathering involves four categories of reactions that take place and bring about the changes in the structure and composition of the rocks which are as follows:
- Hydrolysis- The process of Hydrolysis effects the Silicate part of the rocks where the silicates are converted into clay minerals such as kaoloinite which are more stable than silicate minerals. The reaction takes place in a way that the free hydrogen and hydroxide ions of water replace the mineral ions to convert them in a solution. This conversion completely changes the structure of the mineral and the resultant is a clay mineral. Thus it can be said that the water ionizes and reacts with the rock minerals.
- Carbonation- Carbonation is another process which can bring about weathering. In this process, carbon dioxide is added to the rock minerals as Carbonic Acid. The carbon dioxide part of the acid is derived from the atmosphere and the flora of that particular region. Now the acid reacts with minerals like feldspar and other minerals and dissolves them, thus resulting in weathering.
- Hydration- This is the kind of weathering in which the water ions attach themselves with the particles of other minerals present in the rock. The attachment leads to the formation of minerals, the volumes of which are more than the volumes of original minerals, thus creating a mechanical pressure, which leads to weathering.
- Oxidation- This is the process where the metals present in the rock combine with oxygen and water to form oxides like goethite, hematite and limonite. These oxides make the rock weak and it consequently crumbles to form smaller rock particles. This process can also be termed rusting
- Dissolution- This is a process which is the common among all the methods of chemical weathering wherein the minerals combine with water and get washed away. Dissolution refers to the phenomenon wherein water or acids formed after combining with water dissolve limestone present in the rock. This dissolving of limestone gradually washes off parts of the rock and weather it visibly, causing holes and karst.