Question
Water plays an important role in weathering.

Answer

Water plays an important role in weathering because-
  1. In areas where diurnal range of temperature is high, water inside the crack’s freezes. During daytime, it again becomes water.
  2. When water freezes, its volume increases due to the pressure exerted on the walls of the rock, the cracks in the rocks widen and finally rock breaks down due to freeze and thaw weathering.
  3. Water also breaks down the rocks chemically. The water molecules react with minerals present in the rocks. This is called hydrolysis.
  4. Another way by which water can cause chemical weathering is by solution. Minerals like calcium, magnesium dissolves in water.
  5. Oxygen present in air and water reacts with iron or aluminium present in rock and as a result rock rusts and ultimately breaks.

Need a full question paper?

Generate a complete, print-ready paper with questions like this in minutes — across 16+ boards, with answer keys.

Start Generating Free