Physical vs Chemical Weathering. We see mountains or large rocks stay as it is for years without changing. May be, for hundreds of years, we may not see them changing. However, changes are taking place there which we cannot see because those changes are very small and taking place very slowly.
Weathering is such a process that rocks, soils, and any material go through. This is the process by which rocks are breaking down into smaller particles. Due to wind, water, or biota a slow breakdown happens which is known as weathering. After weathering the materials are combined with other organic material and forms soil. The content of the soil is determined by the parent rock which undergoes weathering.
Weathering can be divided into two as physical weathering and chemical weathering. Oxidation turns into the ultimate such train the place the breakdown of rocks by oxygen and water, repeatedly giving iron-rich shakes a corroded hued weathered ground. Other organisms equal to fungi, micro organism, and lichens moreover play a serious operate in relation to chemical weathering because of the minerals they comprise.
Harlon currently works as a quality moderator and content writer for Difference Wiki. He graduated from the University of California in with a degree in Computer Science. Follow him on Twitter HarlonMoss. Harlon Moss. Updated: February 27, Harlon Moss Harlon currently works as a quality moderator and content writer for Difference Wiki. The degree of chemical weathering differs from rock to rock. For example, in the case of limestone, it occurs readily as compared to granite where it takes some time.
Various other factors are also involved in the chemical weathering process. For example, the temperature is another factor that takes part an important role and occurs more quickly in areas of high temperatures. Acid rain is one of the major contributors to the process of chemical weathering when fossils fuels like gas, coal, and gasoline are burnt they release carbon, oxides sulfur and nitrogen into the atmosphere.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below. Difference between Physical Weathering and Chemical Weathering. Related Differences. If different portions of a rock expand at different rates, the heated parts will exert pressure on each other, and crack.
While physical weathering breaks down rocks without altering their composition, chemical weathering alters the chemicals that compose the rocks.
Depending on the chemicals involved, the rock might disintegrate entirely, or might simply become softer and more vulnerable to other forms of weathering. Physical and chemical weathering often work hand in hand: chemical weathering weakens the rock and physical weathering breaks it down. Oxidation is the reaction of oxygen with chemicals in a rock. For instance, oxygen reacts with iron to form iron oxide -- rust -- which is soft and vulnerable to physical weathering. Hydrolysis is a process in which a rock absorbs water into its chemical structure.
A rock with a higher water content is softer, and thus easier for physical weathering, or even just gravity, to decay. Carbonation is caused by carbonic acid in water reacting with and degrading rock. This acid is especially effective at degrading limestone.
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