Laboratory 5

Weathering of Minerals and Rocks

INTRODUCTION
Weathering is the physical and chemical changes brought upon rocks and minerals
under natural conditions.
Physical weathering mainly acts to reduce the size of rock and mineral particles
without changing the chemical composition. Wetting-drying, freezing-thawing and heatingcooling are principal physical weathering agents. Chemical weathering reduces the size of
rock and mineral particles as well as changing their chemical composition. As soon as physical
disintegration occurs, chemical processes accelerate because of the increased amount of
surface area exposed. Five chemical weathering processes have been identified : dissolution,
hydration, hydrolysis, carbonation, and oxidation/reduction.
1. Dissolution
Dissolution involves the breaking of chemical bonds with the resulting dissociated
portion becoming part of the soil solution may not always be fast acting, but is nearly a
universal solvent given sufficient time.
NaCl + H2O

Na+. C

2. Hydration
Hydration is the chemical combination of water with another substance. Hydrated
substances exhibit different properties than when unhydrated. Depending on the
compound reacting with water, acidic or basic residues may be created. The formation of
limonite from hematite is a typical hydration reaction in soils.
2 Fe
3. Hydrolysis
Hydrolysis is the reaction between a mineral and water, that is, between the H and OH
ions of water and the ions af the mineral. When water and a mineral salt react, the end
products are and acid and a base. In the following reaction, the salt (microline) and
water from basic potassium hydroxide that is soluble, and an acid alumino-silicate
compound which may under recrystallization into a clay mineral like kaolinite.
KAlSi
4. Carbonation
Carbonation is the process whereby basic oxidesare change to carbonates by the action
carbonic acid in the soil solution. Carbonic acid results from the dissolution of small
amount of carbon dioxide either from air or root or microbial respiration. In the
carbonation react below, the magnesium is converted to a more soluble and plant
available form.
MgO

5. Oxidation and Reduction

Oxidation is the ionic adjustment resulting is the loss of an electron, while reduction is
addition of an electron. These adjustment result in a less stable crystal, which is then
subje to further physical or chemical weathering processes. The valence state of an ion
governs solubility and hence its availability tp plants, so oxidation/reduction is a vital soil
weathering process. The reduction of iron under water-logged conditions and the
subsequent oxidation under aerobic conditions typifies this process.
Fe
OBJECTIVES
1. To examine the chemical reactions involved in the process of soil formation.
2. To find out nutrients that contain in the soil.
APPARATUS AND MATERIALS
Chonical flasks, beaker, test-tubes, Bunsen burner, tripod stand, filter funnel, filter paper,
drinking straw, bent glass tubes, dry soil sample, fresh soil sample, hydrochloric acid,
ammonium hydroxide, ammonium oxalate, ammonium molybdate, stannous chloride,
chlorophenol red, calcium hydroxide solution, one-hole stopper, sucrose.
PROCEDURES
Part 1 : The Release of Nutrients from Soil (Dissolution)
1. Place 10 grams of soil No. 1 and No. 2 in separate small conical flasks.
2. Add 50 mL of 0.1 N hydrochloric acid and mix by swirling. Heat just to the point of boiling.
The acid and heat simulate and hasten weathering processes.
3. Filter and collect the filtrates in clean beakers.
4. Place test tube of each filtrate in separate test tubes.
5. Test each filtrate for the following nutrients.
a. Calcium
i.
Add 5 drops of 1 N NH4 OH solution and then 5 drops of saturated
ammonium oxalate and swirl. A white precipitate is calcium oxalate. The
amount of calcium present msy be judged by the amount of precipitate.
b. Phosphorus
i. Add 5 drops of ammonium molybdate solution to each test tube and swirl.
ii. Add 1 drop of stannous chloride solution and swirl. Note the colour of the
solution at the end of 1 minute. If a blue colour develops phosphorus
is present.
6. Record your results.

Part 2 : Carbonation
1.

To 20 mL of water in a clean small beaker add 3 drops of chlorophenol red.

Chlorophenol red is an in