THE AUTHOR. Bon Mark M.

Gerarcas is currently a Science Instructor of the Science

Department of Senior High School at the AMA Computer Learning Center (ACLC),
Tacloban City, Philippines. He earned Bachelor of Secondary Education (BSED) major
in General Science from VSU-Tolosa (2022) from Tolosa, Leyte, and currently earned
his 21 units of Master of Arts in Education major in Science Education from the Leyte
Normal University (LNU), Tacloban City. He has been a recipient of the OWWA-
Education for Development Scholarship Program (EDSP) in the year 2018-2022.

THE COVER. Iconic badge of different living and non-living structures fascinates the
realm of science.

ACLC TACLOBAN CITY

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

Zamora St., Tacloban City, Philippines

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Learning Outcomes

Upon finishing the module, you are expected to do the following:

 explain how rocks undergo weathering
 Identify the di erent agents of weathering
 describe physical, chemical, and biological weathering
 identify the di erent types of physical, chemical, and biological weathering

What is weathering?
Weathering is the physical disintegration and chemical decomposition by which
rocks change upon exposure to physical, chemical and biological processes at or near
the Earth’s surface to produce an in-situ mantle (in place) of the loosened or altered
material. It means that this reaction happens on the surface or within the rock.
Weathering is the process of breakdown of rocks at the Earth’s surface, by the
action of water, ice, acids, salts, plants, animals, gravity and changing temperatures.
There are three types of weathering: physical weathering, chemical weathering, and
biological weathering.

Agents of Weathering

Agents of Weathering Example

Water Frost/Ice Wedging

Either in liquid or solid form is one of
the agents of mechanical weathering.
In liquid form, it seeped into cracks
and crevices of rocks and when the
temperature dropped, it freezes and
definitely will expand in the form of
ice. The ice then works as a wedge
which slowly widens the cracks and
splits rock. When the melts, the liquid
water performs the act of erosion by
carrying away the tiny rocks
fragments lost in the split.

Salt
In the process of haloclasty
(weathering caused by the growth of
salt crystals), salts served as an agent
of weathering. Saltwater sometimes
gets into the cracks and pores of rock.
When it evaporates, salt crystals are
left behind and grow in the cracks and
pores which caused pressure on the
rock and slowly break it apart.

Temperature
Temperature changes can also
contribute to weathering through the
process called thermal stress. During
thermal stress, rock tend to expand
with heat and contract with low
temperature. As this happens
repeatedly, the structure of the rock
weakens and over time crumbles.

Plants
Plants also served as agents of
weathering. Its contribution take
place when the seed of a tree being
spread in the environment sprout in
soil that has collected in a cracked
rock. As the roots grow, they widen
the cracks, eventually breaking the
rock into pieces. Over time, trees can
break apart even large rocks. Even
small plants, such as mosses, can
enlarge tiny cracks as they grow.

Animals
Animals that tunnel underground,
such as moles and prairie dogs, also
work to break apart rock and soil.
Other animals dig and trample rock
aboveground, causing rock to slowly
crumble.

A. Physical Weathering

Physical weathering is caused by the e ects of changing temperatures on

rocks, causing the rock to break apart. The process is sometimes assisted by
water. It happens especially in places where there is little soil and few plants grow,
such as in mountain regions and hot deserts. It occurs either through repeated
 melting and freezing of water (mountains and tundra) or through expansion and
contraction of the surface layer of rocks that are baked by the sun (hot deserts).

Three main types of physical weathering

 Abrasion. It occurs when rocks surface is frequently exposed to water, wind and
gravity.
 Freeze-thaw. It occurs when water continually seeps into cracks, freezes and
expands, eventually breaking the rock apart. It occurs in mountainous regions like
the Alps or Snowdonia.
 Exfoliation. It can happen as cracks develop parallel to the land surface as a
consequence of the reduction in pressure during uplift and erosion. It occurs
typically in upland areas where there are exposures of uniform coarsely crystalline
igneous rocks.

B. Chemical Weathering

Chemical weathering is caused by rainwater reacting with the mineral

grains in rocks to form new minerals (clays) and soluble salts. These reactions
occur particularly when the water is slightly acidic. These chemical processes
need water, and occur more rapidly at higher temperature, so warm, damp
climates are best. Chemical weathering (especially hydrolysis and oxidation) is
the first stage in the production of soils.

There are di erent types of chemical weathering, the most important are:

 Carbonation. Carbon dioxide in the air dissolves in rainwater and becomes

weakly acidic. This weak “carbonic acid” can dissolve limestone as it seeps
into cracks and cavities. Over many years, solution of the rock can form
spectacular cave systems.
 Hydrolysis. The breakdown of rock by acidic water to produce clay and
soluble salts. Hydrolysis takes place when acid rain reacts with rock-forming
minerals such as feldspar to produce clay and salts that are removed in
solution. The only common rock-forming mineral that is not a ected is quartz,
which is a chemically resistant mineral. Therefore, quartz and clay are the two
of the most common minerals in sedimentary rocks.
 Hydration. a type of chemical weathering where water reacts chemically with
the rocks, modifying its chemical structure. Example: H2O (water) is added to
CaSO4 (calcium sulfate) to create CaSO4 + 2H2O (calcium sulfate dihydrate).
It changes from anhydrite to gypsum.
 Oxidation. the breakdown of rock by oxygen and water, often giving iron- rich
rocks a rusty-colored weathered surface.
 C. Biological Weathering

Biological weathering of rocks occurs when rocks are weakened by

di erent biological agents like plants and animals. When plant roots grow through
rocks, it creates fracture and cracks that result eventually to rock breakage.

 Biological Weathering by Physical Means. Burrowing animals like

shrews, moles and earthworms create holes on the ground by excavation
and move the rock fragments to the surface. These fragments become
more exposed to other environmental factors that can further enhance
their weathering. Furthermore, humans also indirectly contribute to
biological weathering by di erent activities that cause rocks to break.

 Biological Weathering by Chemical Compounds. Some plants and

animals also produced acidic substances that react with the rock and
cause its slow disintegration.

Activity 1. Sci-feel it!

Directions: Read and analyze the following questions. Then write your answers on a
separate sheet of paper.

Soil erosion is one of the natural calamities that most of the Filipino community
experiencing. What is the cause and e ect of soil erosion? As a student, what will you do
to protect the community?

_________________________________________________________________________________
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Activity 2. Sci-know It!

Directions: Identify what kind of weathering is described below. Write P if it is physical

weathering and C, if it is chemical weathering.

1. repeated impact of running water

2. grinding of rocks
3. carbon dioxide deposition in rocks
4. dissolution of rocks in water
5. oxidation of iron in rocks
6. eroding of sediments
7. cracked beneath of rocks
8. inclined slope of a river
9. high rusting chains of rocks
10. calcium carbonate gets dissolved in acidic soil found in bedrock

References

Marquez, Edanjarlo J. and Astrid Korina S. Gabo, The Earth: Its Materials, Processes and
History. (Quezon City: St.Bernadette Publishing House Corporation, 2016), 67-68.

Olivar, Jose Tolentino II and Anna Cherylle Morales-Ramos,Earth and Life Science.
(Quezon City: Phoenix Publishing House, Inc., 2016),35-39.

K to 12.Teaching Guide. Earth Science.