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CHEMICAL WEATHERING
- Chemical weathering is the process by which the molecular structures of rocks and soil
change, usually caused by rainwater when it is slightly acidic.
- This occurs when rocks go through chemical reactions in order to generate new minerals.
Chemicals like water, oxygen, and acids are only a few of the substances that cause
geological change.
- There are three types of chemical weathering namely, oxidation, hydrolysis, and
carbonation.

Types of Chemical Weathering:

1. OXIDATION
- It is the changing of the mineral composition of a rock caused by a chemical reaction of
rock minerals with oxygen.
- It is the loss of electrons during a reaction by a molecule, atom, or ion. When the oxidation
state of a molecule, atom, or ion increases, oxidation occurs.
- An example of this is rusting.
2. HYDROLYSIS
- It is a chemical weathering wherein when a substance is combined with water, specifically
with acidic water, a chemical breakdown occurs.
- The meaning itself is in the word hydrolysis, as “hydro” means water and “lysis” refers to
breakdown.
3. CARBONATION
- It is the reaction of rock minerals with carbonic acid. When water reacts with carbon
dioxide, it forms carbonic acid. Carbonic acid breaks down minerals in the rock.
- It is also the addition of carbon dioxide gas to a beverage, imparting sparkle and a tangy
taste and preventing spoilage.

ACID RAIN
- acid rain, also known as acid deposition, is a broad term that refers to any form of
precipitation that includes acidic components, such as sulfuric or nitric acid that fall into
the ground in wet or dry form from the atmosphere. This can include rain, snow, fog, hail,
or even dust that is acidic.
Causes of Acid Rain
- When sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are released into the air, a chemical reaction
happens, resulting in acid rain. These substances can reach the atmosphere, mixing and
reacting with oxygen, water, and other chemicals to produce airborne sulfuric and nitric
acid.
- According to National Geographic, the sources of acid rain are coal-burning power plants,
factories, and automobiles. However, it is said that humans and their activities are the
biggest contributors to acid rain. An example of this is the burning of fossil fuels.
Effects of Acid Rain to Rocks and Soil
 ROCKS
- Rainwater is slightly acidic by nature because carbon dioxide from the air mixes in it.
Minerals in rocks may react with the rainwater, causing the rock to weather.
 - A chemical reaction occurs when acidic rainwater falls on such substances like limestone
or chalk. New, soluble, substances are produced in the reaction. However, there are certain
types of rocks that are difficult to weather, such as granite. Granite is a hard rock that does
not easily weather, but there are some substances in it that do eventually react with acid
rain, causing it to form a weaker substance.
 SOIL
- The acid rain absorbs aluminum from the soil. That aluminum may be damaging to both
plants and animals. Acid rain also deteriorates the soil of minerals and nutrients that trees
require to grow.
- Acid rain lowers the pH of the soil, causing its acidity to increase, thus it decreases the
levels of necessary nutrients in the soil. This process might harm crop nutrition and overall
growth.

References:
Chemical Weathering
https://www.geolsoc.org.uk/ks3/gsl/education/resources/rockcycle/page3564.html#
Oxidation
https://www.thoughtco.com/definition-of-oxidation-in-chemistry-605456
Carbonation
https://www.britannica.com/science/carbonation
https://passel2.unl.edu/view/lesson/edd25385ca3d/3
Hydrolysis
https://www.geolsoc.org.uk/ks3/gsl/education/resources/rockcycle/page3566.html
https://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-chemical-weathering-definition-process-
examples.html#
Acid Rain
https://www.epa.gov/acidrain/what-acid-rain#
Causes of Acid Rain
https://www3.epa.gov/acidrain/education/site_students/whatcauses.html
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/acid-rain
Effects of Acid Rain
Soil
https://www.epa.gov/acidrain/effects-acid-rain
https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2018AGUFMED41D1217M/abstract
Rocks
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zwd2mp3/revision/2