| A | B |
|---|
| mechanical weathering | the breakdown of rock into smaller pieces by physical means |
| oxidation | a chemical reaction in which an element, such as iron, combines with oxygen to form an oxide |
| weathering | the process by which rock materials are broken down by the action of physical or chemical processes |
| acid precipitation | rain, sleet, or snow that contains a high concentration of acids |
| abrasion | the grinding and wearing away of rock surfaces through the mechanical action of other rock or sand particles |
| chemical weathering | the process by which rocks break down as a result of chemical reactions |
| transported soil | soil that is blown or washed away from its parent rock |
| bedrock | the layer of rock beneath the soil |
| soil | a loose mixture of small mineral fragments, organic material, water, and air that can support the growth of vegetation |
| parent rock | the source of mineral fragments in the soil |
| soil conservation | a method to maintain the fertility of the soil by protecting the soil from erosion and nutrient loss |
| soil texture | soil quality based on the relative size of soil particles |
| soil structure | the arrangement of soil particles |
| humus | the organic material formed in soil from the decayed remains of plants and animals |
| leaching | the removal from soil of substances that can be dissolved in water |
| Agents of Mechanical Weathering | ice, abrasion, wind, water, gravity, plants, and animals |
| Agents of Chemical Weathering | water, acid precipitation, acids in groundwater, acids in living things, air |
| 4 steps of Ice Wedging | 1. Water seeps into cracks. 2. Water freezes and expands. 3. Ice widens cracks. 4. The rock splits apart. |
| Soil with a pH higher than 7 | The soil is basic. |
| Soil with a pH lower than 7 | The soil is acidic. |
| Soil with a pH of 7 | The soil is neutral. |
| lichens | produce acids that can slowly break down rock by chemical weathering |
| ice wedging | a type of mechanical weathering which is also a type of frost action |
