Chemical Weathering

Chemical weathering is due to minerals when minerals are soluble in water due to which the basic structure of salt changes. The first three of the following list are solubility changes and the last three are structural changes.The solution of salts in water results from the action of bipolar water on ionic salt compounds.Hydrolysis is the transformation of minerals into polar molecules by the splitting of the intervening water. This results in soluble acid-base pairs. For example, the hydrolysis of orthoclase-feldspar transforms it to acid silicate clay and basic potassium hydroxide, both of which are more soluble.In carbonation, the reaction of carbon dioxide in solution with water forms carbonic acid. Carbonic acid will transform calcite into more soluble calcium bicarbonate.Hydration is the inclusion of water in a mineral structure, causing it to swell and leaving it more stressed and easily decomposed.Oxidation of a mineral compound causes it to swell and increase its oxidation number, leaving it more easily attacked by water or carbonic acid.Reduction means the oxidation number of some part of the mineral is reduced, which occurs when oxygen is scarce. The reduction of minerals leaves them electrically unstable, more soluble and internally stressed and easily decomposed.