Which term describes chemical weathering?

• A. Mechanical Weathering
• B. Chemical Weathering
• C. Erosion
• D. Deposition

Answer: (B)

Chemical weathering is the process where minerals in rocks undergo chemical changes due to reactions with water, air, and acids. This alters the rock’s mineral composition, dissolving some components or forming new minerals. That exact idea is captured by the term itself, making it the best fit for describing chemical weathering. For example, feldspar transforming into clay through hydrolysis, calcite dissolving in acidic rain, or iron-bearing minerals oxidizing to form rust. In contrast, mechanical weathering breaks rocks into smaller pieces without changing their chemical makeup, erosion is the movement of weathered material by wind, water, or ice, and deposition is the laying down of those materials somewhere else.