Question

Give Reasons:

Chemical weathering is predominant in hot and humid zones.

Answer 1

1. Heat speeds up chemical weathering.
2. Minerals can react with oxygen in the atmosphere or water from rain – even occassional rain in arid zones – to change their chemical composition.
3. Metallic silicate minerals such as iron containing olivine, oxidize to form hematite, a red coloured iron oxide that coats rocks.
4. It is present in desert sands as laterite soil.
5. With continuing heat and moisture, hematite hydrates to form a yellow coloured iron oxide, limonite.