Module 2.

11
Weathering as an Exogenic Process
Objectives
a.define weathering

b. distinguish between the two main types of weathering

c. Identify the factors that affect the rate of weathering.

Lecture
Power Words

Frost wedging when water gets inside the joints, alternate freezing and thawing episodes pry
the rock apart
Exfoliation when the temperature of rocks rapidly changes that can expand or crack rocks.
Salt crystal growth a force exerted by a salt crystal that formed as water evaporates from pore
spaces or cracks in rocks can cause the rock to fall apart
Abrasion wearing away of rocks by a constant collision of loose particles
Biological activity plants and animals as agents of mechanical weathering
Dissolution dissociation of molecules into ions
Oxidation a reaction between minerals and oxygen dissolved in water
Hydrolysis change in the composition of minerals when they react with water
 Exogenic processes are processes that take place or near the Earth`s surface that makes the surface
wear away. This could be destructive and they are responsible for degradation and sculpting the
earth`s surface. There are different types of exogenic processes, one of which is weathering.

 Weathering describes the breaking down or dissolving of rocks and minerals on the surface of the
Earth. Water, ice, acids, salts, plants, animals, and changes in temperature are all agents of weathering.

 Weathering occurs because most rocks are in equilibrium with higher temperature and pressure deep
within the Earth. Rocks that are deeply buried lie in a different environment physically and chemically
than those exposed on the earth`s surface. Once rocks are exposed to changes in temperature and
pressure they become unstable. As a result, rock fragments produced by weathering are removed by
erosion and the general term for both weathering and erosion is known as denudation.

 Below is a diagram that shows the different types of weathering and the factors that affect weathering.

An Exogenic Process
Weathering

Types of
Weathering

Mechanical Chemical
Weathering Weathering Factors that affect the type,
extent, and rate at which
weathering takes place
Oxidation
Exfoliation
Dissolution Climate
Frost
Wedging
Salt Crystal Hydrolysis
Growth Rock Type

Abrasion
Biological
Rock Structure
Activity
 Topography

Activity 1
Name: ___________________________________ Score: ________________________
Section: __________________________________ Date: ________________________

Facts on Weathering

A. TRUE/FALSE Directions: Read each statement below carefully. Place a T on the line if you think a
statement is TRUE. Place an F on the line if you think the statement is FALSE.

_______1. Weathering occurs on both the surface of the earth and beneath it.
_______2. Weathering involves non-moving rocks that are broken down by exposure to the
atmosphere.
_______3. There are three types of weathering.
_______4. Physical weathering may happen when there is a change in temperature in nature.
_______5. Chemical weathering involves frozen water in the cracks of a rock.
_______6. Acid rain can cause chemical weathering

B. Directions: Classify the following according to proper heading then write the specific process that
leads to mechanical or chemical weathering. (1 pt. each)

Mechanical Weathering Chemical Weathering

Example: Burrowing animals – Biological activity

1. Hot day and cold night

2. Repeated freezing and melting of water within small crevices in the rock surface
3. Cracks on rocks made by the growth of a plant’s roots
4. Bumping of rocks onto other rocks
5. Ice forms in the cracks of a street
6. Big roots create cracks on rocks
7. Swiftly moving water
8. Salt crystallization common along coastlines
9. Chemicals in groundwater break rocks and create caves
10. A stone statue’s color has worn out by acid rain
11. A reaction between rocks and oxygen known as oxidation
12. Rust that has a reddish-brown color forming on oxidized rocks
13. Limestone that’s made up of calcium carbonate, reacts with underground water
14. A continuous flow of water on rocks

____________________________________ _________________
PARENT’S SIGNATURE OVER PRINTED NAME DATE

Group Activity 2
Name: ___________________________________ Score: ________________________
Section: __________________________________ Date: ________________________

Break Me Down
Objective:
a. describe the effect of temperature and size of sediments on the rate of weathering of rocks;
b. explain how chemical weathering fasten mechanical weathering.

Materials:
2 Antacid tablets
2 Beaker
Stopwatch

Procedure:
1. Put an equal volume of equal temperature water into 2 cups.
2. Drop one whole antacid tablet into one of the cups.
3. Record your observation and the time from when the tablet is added until it is completely dissolved
and no traces of the tablet are visible.
4. Break one tablet into smaller pieces by putting pressure on it and drop into the other cup. Record
your observation and the dissolution time of the tablet.
5. Wash the cups making sure there are no pieces of antacid tablet left.
6. Repeat steps 3 to 5 but this time uses hot water.
7. Fill the table with dissolution times (in seconds) they have recorded.

Results and Discussions (5 pts)

Guide Questions:
1. In which setup did the reaction occur most rapidly? In which setup did it occur most slowly? ( 2 [ts)
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
2. What is the relationship between particle size and speed it takes for the tablet to dissolve? How does
this relationship applies to weathering in nature? (3 pts)
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
3. In the activity you have just finished, how does mechanical weathering contribute to chemical
weathering? How can you demonstrate the fact that chemical weathering can hasten mechanical
weathering? (3 pts)
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
4. Compare dissolution times in room temperature water and hot water. What is the relationship between
temperature and weathering rate? (2 pts)
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
5. Study the diagram below and describe how the amount of rainfall affects the type of weathering.(5pts)

______________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________

Conclusion:

Rubrics
Accuracy of the results gathered 5 pts
Total points to the answered questions 15 pts
Delivery of conclusion 5 pts
Total 25 pts

_____________________________________ ____________________
PARENT`S SIGNATURE OVER PRINTED NAME DATE

References
 https://www.teacherph.com/earth-life-science-teaching-guide/
https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/weathering/
https://www.teachervision.com/weather/weathering-erosion
https://www.clearias.com/exogenic-forces/
https://www.slideshare.net/danielasiengelladula/exogenic-processes-78920091
https://www.scribd.com/presentation/181412450/CHAPTER-4-WEATHERING-ppt

Answer Key
 Activity 1
Facts on Weathering
A. TRUE/FALSE Directions: Read each statement below carefully. Place a T on the line if you think a statement it
TRUE. Place an F on the line if you think the statement is FALSE. ( 1 pt each)
1. T 2. T
3. F 4. T
5. F 6. T
B. Directions: Classify the following according to proper heading.

Mechanical / Physical Weathering

1. Hot day and cold night - Exfoliation
2. Repeated freezing and melting of water within small crevices in the rock surface - Frost Wedging
3. Cracks on rocks made by the growth of a plant’s roots – Biological Activity
4. Bumping of rocks onto other rocks - Abrasion
5. Ice forms in the cracks of a street - Frost Wedging
6. Big roots of plants create cracks on rock. – Biological activity
7. Swiftly moving water - Abrasion
8. Salt crystallization common along coastlines – salt crystal growth

Chemical Weathering

9. Chemicals in groundwater break rocks and create caves - Dissolution

10. A stone statue’s color has worn out by acid rain – acidification/dissolution
11. A reaction between rocks and oxygen known as oxidation - oxidation
12. Rust that has a reddish-brown color forming on oxidized rocks - oxidation
13. Limestone that’s made up of calcium carbonate, reacts with underground water – dissolution/carbonation
14. A continuous flow of water on rocks

Activity 2
Break Me Down
Results and Discussions
Room Temperature water Hot water
Whole tablet Slow reaction Reacts slow
Broken tablet Fast reaction/ more fizzing sound Reacts quickly

Guide Questions: ( 2 pts each number)

1. In which setup did the reaction occur most rapidly? In which setup did it occur most slowly?
Broken tablet in hot water exhibited the fastest reaction rates whereas the whole tablet in room
temperature water showed slowest dissolution times.
2. What is the relationship between particle size and speed it takes for the tablet to dissolve? How does
this relationship apply to weathering in nature?
The larger the surface area the faster reaction will proceed. In nature, smaller rocks weather faster
than large rocks. Cracked and pitted surfaces will weather faster than smooth surfaces

3. In the activity you have just finished, how does mechanical weathering contribute to chemical
weathering? How can you demonstrate the fact that chemical weathering can hasten mechanical
weathering?
Breaking or crushing the tablet exposes more surface area. As mechanical weathering breaks rocks into
smaller pieces, more surface area is exposed which renders the rock more susceptible to attack by
agents of chemical weathering. Chemical weathering can speed up physical disintegration by
weakening the bonds between grains, loosening them to fall out physically. Placing a few drops of
water on the tablet would soften it making breaking/crushing a lot easier.
4. Compare dissolution times in room temperature water and hot water. What is the relationship between
temperature and weathering rate?
Faster dissolution times in hot water. Chemical weathering proceeds more rapidly at higher
temperatures.

5. Study the diagram below and describe how the amount of rainfall affects the type of weathering.(5pts)
High rainfall would lead to a strong chemical weathering
This is because of the exposure of rocks against subs-
tances such as acidic solution due to acid rain, the action
of water and other dissolved chemicals.