Texas A&M University (TAMU) GEOL101 Principles of Geology Exam 1 Practice Exam

The process of hydrolysis is a chemical weathering reaction where minerals react with water, leading to the breakdown of the original mineral structure. This reaction typically involves water molecules interacting with certain minerals, particularly silicates, resulting in the formation of new minerals and dissolved ions.

For example, when feldspar, a common silicate mineral found in granite, reacts with water, it undergoes hydrolysis to form clay minerals and soluble ions like potassium and silica. This transformation is significant in the weathering of rocks as it alters the composition and stability of the minerals present, contributing to soil formation and the overall landscape evolution.

In contrast, dissolution, oxidation, and carbonation involve different mechanisms. Dissolution specifically refers to the process of a soluble substance dissolving into a solvent, oxidation involves the reaction of minerals with oxygen, and carbonation typically entails the reaction of carbon dioxide with minerals, particularly affecting calcium carbonate. Each of these processes plays a role in chemical weathering, but hydrolysis distinctly emphasizes the direct interaction between a mineral and water in its weathering process.