Chemical Weathering of Rock Quick Check
1 of 41 of 4 Items
Question
Which statement correctly describes how hydrolysis causes chemical weathering?(1 point)
Responses
Water reacts with carbon dioxide to produce clay, weakening the rock.
Water reacts with carbon dioxide to produce clay, weakening the rock.
Water reacts with minerals in rocks to produce clay, weakening the rock.
Water reacts with minerals in rocks to produce clay, weakening the rock.
Water reacts with carbon dioxide to produce carbonic acid, weakening the rock.
Water reacts with carbon dioxide to produce carbonic acid, weakening the rock.
Water reacts with minerals in rocks to produce carbonic acid, weakening the rock.
Water reacts with minerals in rocks to produce carbonic acid, weakening the rock.
The correct statement is: Water reacts with minerals in rocks to produce clay, weakening the rock.
Chemical Weathering Quick Check
1 of 41 of 4 Items
Question
Which substance combines with iron in the presence of water to form rust?(1 point)
Responses
carbon dioxide
carbon dioxide
nitrogen
nitrogen
oxygen
oxygen
acid
The correct statement is:
Water reacts with minerals in rocks to produce clay, weakening the rock.
To answer this question, we need to understand what hydrolysis is and how it causes chemical weathering.
Hydrolysis is a chemical reaction where water reacts with a substance, causing it to break down or change its composition. In the context of chemical weathering, hydrolysis refers to the reaction between water and minerals present in rocks.
Option 1 states that water reacts with carbon dioxide to produce clay, weakening the rock. However, this is incorrect because hydrolysis does not involve carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide primarily causes weathering through a different process called carbonation.
Option 2 states that water reacts with minerals in rocks to produce clay, weakening the rock. This is the correct answer. Hydrolysis involves water breaking down the chemical bonds within minerals, leading to the production of clay minerals. These clay minerals are softer and more easily eroded than the original rock, effectively weakening it.
Option 3 states that water reacts with carbon dioxide to produce carbonic acid, weakening the rock. While carbonic acid does play a role in weathering, it is not through the process of hydrolysis. Carbonic acid primarily causes weathering through carbonation, where it reacts with minerals to form soluble compounds.
Option 4 states that water reacts with minerals in rocks to produce carbonic acid, weakening the rock. This is incorrect because, as mentioned earlier, carbonic acid is not produced through hydrolysis.
Therefore, the correct statement is option 2: Water reacts with minerals in rocks to produce clay, weakening the rock.