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Chemical Process of Weathering

Chemical Process of Weathering
Atmospheric gases like CO2, SO2, N2, O2 and water vapour react with rocks and minerals and change them to new minerals. The following reactions are important as chemical weathering agents.

Chemical Process of Weathering

Hydration When H+ and. OH- ions get attached to minerals to become an integral part of them.
2Fe2O3 + 3H-OH → 2Fe2O3 + 3H2O
haematite (red) limonite (yellow)

Carbonation When carbonic acid reacts with minerals and changes them to new minerals.

CaCO3 + H2CO3 → Ca (HCO3)2
insoluble soluble

Solution Rain water gradually dissolves the insoluble minerals. For example, heavy rain washes the Ca and carbonate ions down thus solubilising calcium carbonate in water.

Oxidation Process by which electrons are lost from ions (mineral ions) whose positive charge is increased.

For example, Fe+++ ion → Fe++ ion

Even when a compound combines with oxygen, it is said to be oxidised.
For example, when Fe++ ion in ferromagnesian mineral get easily oxidised to Fe+++ ion. During this process, some positive ions go out of the crystal lattice of mineral in order to maintain electrical neutrality (since electron have been removed) leaving some portion of the crystal lattice of the mineral empty, facilitating entry of ions into it and exit of some ions from it. Hence ferromagnesian minerals are rapidly decomposed this way.

 
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