What are the four types of chemical weathering of rocks?

The correct answer identifies the four primary types of chemical weathering: dissolution, hydrolysis, hydration, and oxidation. Each of these processes involves chemical reactions that alter the minerals within rocks.

Dissolution occurs when water or other solvents dissolve minerals, such as the dissolution of limestone by acidic water, leading to features like caves. Hydrolysis involves the reaction of minerals with water, resulting in the transformation of silicate minerals into clay minerals and other soluble substances. Hydration is the process where water molecules are incorporated into the mineral structure, causing expansion and contributing to further breakdown. Lastly, oxidation occurs when oxygen reacts with minerals, often leading to the rusting of iron-containing minerals, which weakens the rock structure.

These four types specifically address the chemical changes that break down rocks at the molecular level, in contrast to physical weathering processes, which involve the mechanical breakdown of rocks without altering their chemical composition.