Which of the following describes hydrolysis as a form of chemical weathering?

Hydrolysis is accurately described as the process of breaking down minerals through reactions with water. In this chemical weathering process, water reacts with minerals in rocks, leading to a transformation of the minerals into new chemical forms. For example, feldspar, a common mineral in granite, can react with water and carbonic acid, resulting in clay minerals and dissolved ions. This chemical alteration of minerals is fundamental to the long-term weathering of rocks, altering their structure and composition.

The other options focus on different aspects of weathering or do not accurately portray hydrolysis. Banking soil and rock particles relates more to sedimentation processes rather than chemical transformations. The physical breakdown of rocks into smaller pieces describes mechanical weathering, which does not involve chemical changes. The introduction of foreign elements into rock structures is more associated with processes like contamination or pollution and does not accurately reflect the specific process of hydrolysis.