Hi mrs. sue! I cant figure out the answer please help!

Which of the following explains how water causes rocks to weather? (1 point)
Water can melt rock material.
Water freezes in the cracks and expands, causing breaks.
Water reacts with the rock and produces gases.
all of the above

http://www.ehow.com/how-does_5131969_causes-weathering-rocks.html

Hi! I'm not Mrs. Sue, but I'm here to help you with your question. To determine the correct answer, let's break down the options:

1. "Water can melt rock material." - Water has the ability to dissolve certain types of rocks, like salt or limestone, through a process called chemical weathering. However, this answer doesn't explain how water causes rocks to weather in general.

2. "Water freezes in the cracks and expands, causing breaks." - This is a process called frost wedging. When water seeps into the cracks of rocks and freezes, it expands, exerting pressure on the rock and causing it to break or weather over time. Frost wedging is a significant factor in the weathering of rocks in cold climates.

3. "Water reacts with the rock and produces gases." - Water can chemically react with certain types of rocks, like limestone, resulting in the production of gases such as carbon dioxide. This chemical reaction is known as hydrolysis and is a form of chemical weathering.

Now, let's evaluate the options:

- Option 1 only mentions the ability of water to melt rock material, which is a specific case of weathering.
- Option 2 correctly describes frost wedging, a common mechanism of weathering caused by water freezing and expanding in rock cracks.
- Option 3 correctly identifies the process of water reacting with rocks to produce gases, which is a form of chemical weathering.

Considering the explanations provided, we can conclude that the correct answer is "all of the above" because all three options describe different processes through which water causes rocks to weather.