Which rock weathers most rapidly when exposed to acid rain and why igneous rocks more resistant to weathering?
This mineral has a certain degree of water solubility at cooler temperatures, and the dissociated CO2−3 C O3 2 − ions combine with hydronium H3O+ H 3 O+ions in acid rain to make carbonic acid H2CO3 which further corrodes the rock. Certain types of rock are very resistant to weathering. Igneous rocks, especially intrusive igneous rocks such as granite, weather slowly because it is hard for water to penetrate them. Other types of rock, such as limestone, are easily weathered because they dissolve in weak acids.
Silica-rich igneous rocks have a crystalline nature and mineral composition that resists weathering far better than do the cemented grains of a sedimentary rock. The metamorphic equivalents of sedimentary and igneous rocks are often more resistant due to recrystallization.Certain types of rock are very resistant to weathering. Igneous rocks, especially intrusive igneous rocks such as granite, weather slowly because it is hard for water to penetrate them. Other types of rock, such as limestone, are easily weathered because they dissolve in weak acids. Quartz is known to be the most resistant rock- forming mineral during surface weathering. Also, sedimentary rocks are generally less hard than igneous or metamorphic rocks - this is because the lithification process does not involve heat or pressure, and sedimentary rocks are kind of just "smooched" together. Chemical weathering describes the process of chemicals in rainwater making changes to the minerals in a rock. Carbon dioxide from the air is dissolved in rainwater, making it slightly acidic. A reaction can occur when the rainwater comes into contact with minerals in the rock, causing weathering.Mafic silicates like olivine and pyroxene tend to weather much faster than felsic minerals like quartz and feldspar. Different minerals show different degrees of solubility in water in that some minerals dissolve much more readily than others.
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