Chemical Weathering© Copyright NewPath Learning. All Rights Reserved. 94-4546Visit www.newpathlearning.com for Online Learning Resources.Some photos courtesy of NPS.What Is Chemical Weathering?Chemical weathering involves the breaking down of rocks by chemical reactions. The three main chemical reactions that decompose rocks are acid reactions, oxidation and hydrolysis. Natural Chemical WeatheringAcid-producing lichen and tree roots that eat through rock are natural sources of chemical weathering. Many minerals are also relatively unstable and deteriorate in the presence of water and natural chemicals. limestonecaveimmersedrocksrustacid reactionoxidationhydrolysischemical weathering(hydrolysis)granitelichentreerootsclayChemical Weathering & PollutionChemical weathering can be caused by pollution. Acid rain, created by the burning of fossil fuels, dissolves some types of rocks such as limestone. effects of acid rainThe feldspar found in granite breaks down into clay.Chemical weathering involves the breaking down of rocks by chemical reaccccttttttttttttttiiiiiiiiiiiiiooooooooooooonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnss. The threeeeeeeeee mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmaaaaaaaaaaaain ccccccchhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeeeeeeeemmmmmmmmmmmmicccccccaaaaaaaaaaaaaaallllllllllllll reactions that decompose rocks are acid reactions, oxidation and hydrolysiiiiiiiiiiissssssssssssss. Acid-producing lichen and tree roots that eat throughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh rrrrrrrrrrrooooooooooccccccccccccckkkkkkkkkkkkkkk arrreeeeeeeeeeeee nnnnnnnnnnnnaaaaaaaaaattttttttttttuuuuuuuralllllllll sources of chemical weathering. Many mineraaallllllllllllssssssssss aaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeee aaaaaaaaaallllllllsssssssooooooooooooooo rrrrrrrrrrrrrreeelllllllllllllaaaaaaaaaaaatttttttttttively unstable and deteriorate in the presence of watttttttttteeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrr aaaaaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnnnnnndddddddddddddd nnnnnnnnnnnnaaaaaaaaatttttttttttuuuuurrrrrrrrrrraaaaaaaallll ccccccccccccchhhhhhhhhhhhhhemiiiiiiiccccccccccccccaaaaaaaaaaaaaaallllllllllllsssssssssssss.... limestonecaveimmerseddddddddddddddddddrrrrrrrrrrrrooooooooooooooocccccccccccccckkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkksssssssssssssrustacid reactionoxidatttttttttttttttiiiiiiiiiiiiiooooooooooooonnnnnnnnnnnnhyyyyyyyyyyydddddddddddddrrrrrrrrrrroooooooooooooolllllllllllyyyyyyyyyyyyyyssssssssssssssiiiiiiiisssssssssssschemical weathering(hydrolysis)granitellllllllllllliiiiiiiiiicccccccccchentreerootsclayChemiccccccccccccaaaaaaaaaaaalll wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaatttttttttttthhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeeeeerrriiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnggggggggggggg ccccccccccccaaaaaaan be cccccccccaaaaaaaaaaaauuuuuuuuuuuussssssssssseeddddddddddddd bbbbbbbbbbbbbyyyyyyyyyyyyy poooolllllllllllllllllllllllluuuuuuuuuuuuutiooooooooooooon. Acid rain, ccccccccccccrrrrrrrrrrrrreeaaaattttttttttttteeeeeeeeeeeeeeedddddddddddddddddddd bbbbbbbbbbbbbbyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy ttttttttttthhhhhhhhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeee bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbuuuuuuuuuuuuuurnnnnnnniiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnggggggggggggggg of fossssssssssssssssssiiiiiiiiiiiillllllllll fffffffuuuuuuuuuuuuueeeeeeeeeeeeellllllllllllsssssssssssss,, dissssssssssssssssssssssssssssssoolves sommmeeeeeeeeeeeeee tyyyyyyyyyyyyyppppppppppppppeeeeeeeeeeeessssssssssss ooooooooooooooffffffffffffff rrrrrrrrrrooooooooooocccccccccccckkkkkkkkkkkkkkkks succcchhhhhhhhhhhhhhh aaaaaaaaaaaaaassssssss lllllllllliiiiiiiiiiimmmmmmmmmmmmmmeeeeeeeeeeeeeestone. effects of acid rainThe feldspar found in granite breaks down into clay.
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