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Madeline Saldana

September 20, 2015


Block 2
Chemical and Mechanical Weathering of Rock
Pre-Lab Discussion:
The breakdown of rock occur as a result of physical or mechanical processes, chemical
processes, and organic processes.
Glaciers, thick ice masses that form on land from accumulation and compaction of snow,
are the cause of most of North Americas soil today. However, as glaciers move, they exert an
immense amount of force on the rocks and rocks and surfaces below them. This leads to
erosion in two different form: abrasion and plucking. Abrasion occurs when a glacier grinds
away at the Earths surface; plucking occurs when glaciers pick up large pieces of rock as it
grinds at the Earths surface.
During erosion, rainwater causes the movement of rock and soil. The water that flows
across the Earth forms sheets; their movement is called sheet erosion. Sheet erosion, then,
develops into small channels called rills. Gullies form from the larger depressions of cuts in the
soil. The dislodged rock and soil fragments have now relocated and they are referred to as
sediment.
Air causes erosion as well. It is just as capable as picking of pieces of dirt and soil and
carrying it to various different locations, like water.
Ice expansion is another possible cause of erosion. Due to the expansion of water when
it freezes, pressure is exerted onto rock as water seeps into cracks. This is apparent when
looking at potholes. Rainwater and snow seeps into the cracks in the road and as the
temperatures drop, the water freezes, exerting pressure which form cracks.
Other factors that cause erosion are chemical processes. Water can cause a major
impact to the breakdown of rocks. It can oxidize certain materials and cause rust to develop.
Lastly, weathering can occur due to organic processes. Plant, animal, and human
activity can stress the Earths surface. Plant roots that seek minerals and water can break apart
rocks. Animals that burrow underground can disrupt soil and rock fragments. Decaying
organisms acidity can decompose rock. Humans also disrupt rock and soil formations while
digging for minerals and doing road work.
Purpose:
The purpose of this experiment was to be able to understand and observe the chemical
and mechanical processes involved in rock formation and decomposition.
Hypothesis:
If rocks are put through weathering simulations, they will react identically or similarly to
how rocks react in the environment. For example, they will erode, oxidize, rust, decompose and
form.
Materials:
-Bean seeds (10)
-Balance
-Calcium Sulfate, CaSo4 (2 spoonfuls)
-Dish (Aluminum)
-Granite Chips (20g)
-Tweezers
-Halite Chips (15g)
-Magnifying glass
-Hydrochloric Acid Solution, HCl, (15mL)
-Marker

-Ice cube
-Local rock samples (2)
-Marble chips (25g)
-Pyrite pieces (2)
-Sand (6 spoonfuls)

-Paper towels
-Pipets
-Small plastic cups (3)
-Sample container
-Sheet of white paper
-Spoon
-Styrofoam tray
-Timer
-Water, tap
-Weighing dish

Procedure:
Part 1. Mechanical Weathering
1. Approximately 15 g of marble chips were obtained.
2. The marble chips were placed in a sample container.
3. Water was added to the sample container until the marble chips were completely
covered.
4. The lid was screwed on and the sample container was shaken for three minutes.
5. After the three minutes, the lid was unscrewed and the water was carefully
poured out. The chips were dried with a paper towel.
6. Using a balance and a weighing dish, the marble chips were massed.
7. The condition of the marble chips were observed using a magnifying glass,
paying close attention to the edges and surface of the chips.
8. Steps 2 through 8 were repeated three more times for a total of 12 minutes of
shaking.
9. Steps 1 through 8 were repeated for halite and granite chips.
10. All tools were thoroughly cleaned after completing this part.
Part 2. Geological Changes
1. Two local rock samples were obtained, as well as a white sheet of paper.
2. The two rocks were rubbed together over the sheet of paper to simulate geologic
changes on a miniature scale.
Part 3. Glacial Changes
1. An ice cube, sand, a paper towel, and a styrofoam tray were obtained.
2. A small amount of sand was sprinkled onto the styrofoam tray.
3. The ice cube was held, using a paper towel. It was slowly moved over the sand
while pushing it down on the styrofoam tray.
Part 4. Ice Expansion
1. The teacher poured water into an unsealed glass jar.
2. She put it in the freezer overnight.
3. The jar was taken out of the freezer and put on display for observation.
Part 5. Expansion and Contraction Effects
1. The teacher heated a glass vial over a flame for approximately three minutes.
2. After approximately three minutes passes, the glass vial was removed from the
flame and immediately dunked into a beaker filled with ice cold water.
Part 6. Chemical Weathering
1. Three pieces of marble were placed in a small plastic cup.
2. Three pieces of granite were placed into another small plastic cup.

3. Using a graduated pipet, enough 1 M hydrochloric acid solution was added to


cover the samples in both small cups.
4. The cups sat overnight.
Part 7. Oxidation
1. Two pieces of pyrite were placed into a small plastic cup.
2. Using a graduated pipet,enough 1 M hydrochloric acid solution was added to
cover the pyrite in the cup.
3. The cup was allowed to sit for two to three days.
4. After the two to three days passed, the pyrite pieces were removed from the cup
and placed on a piece of paper towel using tweezers.
5. A magnifying glass was used to record all observations.
Part 8. Organic Processes
1. An aluminum dish was obtained.
2. Two spoonfuls of calcium sulfate was placed in the dish.
3. Water was added until the calcium sulfate formed a thin paste.
4. Ten bean seeds were added and submerged to the calcium sulfate paste in the
dish. The mixture represents a simulated rock.
5. It was observed for two weeks.

Data Table

Chemical and Mechanical Weathering of Rock


Part 1. Mechanical Weathering
Marble Chips

Original
Mass
21.69 g

Mass after 3
Minutes
21.18 g

Mass after 6
Minutes
20.15 g

Mass after 9
Minutes
14.37 g

Mass after 12
Minutes
14.30 g

Rocks
appear to
have marble
gray color

Water looks
as white as
milk

White paste
came off
rocks and is
stuck on
inside of the
container

Feels very
cold

Water is still
as white as
milk

Water fogged
up
Rocks
remained the
same

Rocks are a
dirty gray
color
The insides
of the rocks
have turned
black

Water is still
foggy

Lost
shimmery
effect

Some rocks
have black
spots on
them

Rocks are
dull and gray
in color
Still no
shimmer

Shimmery
effect
Chipped
Halite Chips

Original
Mass
21.45 g

Mass After 3
Minutes
10.03 g

Mass after 6
Minutes
18.75 g

Mass after 9
Minutes
________ g

Mass after 12
Minutes
_________ g

Water is
foggy/dirty
looking

Water is still
clear

Water is still
clear

Rocks
dissolved

Rocks
poured out
with water

Little bubbles
have formed
around the
sides of the
container

The rocks
have
disappeared
and the
remains are
little particles

Rocks are
small and
have a
transparent
appearance

Chips are
transparent,
and have the
same
similarities of
appearance
as salt

The mass of
the rocks
have gone up
because of
the fact the
rocks
disappeared

Granite Chips

Original
Mass
21.45 g

Mass After 3
Minutes
21.57 g

Mass after 6
Minutes
21.83 g

Mass after 9
Minutes
23.20 g

Mass after 12
Minutes
23.44 g

Water is
clear.

Water turned
brown
The rocks
are damp
colored

Water is a bit
foggy with a
hint of brown
color

Rocks have a
black spot on
it

Rocks are
brown in
color and
have a
distinguished
red color

Water is a bit
foggy with a
hint of brown
color
Rocks have
the same
appearance
as before

Rocks have
the same
appearance
as before

Water is
foggy, and
has a tint of
brown

Part 2.
Geological Changes Observations
Smells like burnt hair which infers that there could be slate present in
the rocks.
Nothing is coming off the given rocks, they have a powder like
substance forming where the two rocks were being rubbed together.
Part 3.
Glacial Changes

Observations
Sand imprints were left in the tray.
It feels cold, hard and dusty.
Ice Cube: The sand clumps up and turns grey. The sand is stuck to the
ice cube.

Part 3.
Ice Expansions

Observations
The glass jar cracked and the lid was popped off
The ice maintained its shape throughout the freezing
process
The jar cracked due to the change in density

Part 5.

Expansion and
Contraction Effects

Observations
Heating glass vial next to beaker of ice cold water
Glass expanding and turning black
Black part of glass cracked and broken off in ice cold water

Part 6.
Chemical Weathering

Marble
1-Day Observations

Granite
1-Day Observations

The appearance of the rocks


remain the same. Nothing
has really changed about it.

The appearance of the rock


remains the same. The
hydrochloric acid starts to
obtain a yellowish color.

Part 7.
Oxidation

Initial Observations
Observations After 2-3 Days
There are silver bits; it looks very fragile. It looks like
lead. It disintegrated. Bits and pieces are missing. It
smells like hard metal.

Part 8.
Organic Process

Observations:
week 1: The hydrochloric paste hardened and cracked as if it
appears to be plaster like substance. The beans look the same
in appearance and are popping out through the white paste.

week 2: The hydrochloric paste remains the same way as it was


last week; however, the beans seem to have cracked and
wrinkled a bit from the white hardened paste.

Discussion:
Part 1. Mechanical Weathering
The longer the weather chips were weathered, the more they decayed. Each time we
poured the water out, dried the chips, poured new water in, and shook the cup, the water got
foggier. The fogginess indicated the marble, halite, and granite sediments that result from
weathering. With the amount of time, the mass of the marble chips decreased due to the
deterioration of each rock. If the marble chips were shaken for a day or longer, one can assume
that they completely disintegrate eventually. The mass of the halite and granite chips also

decreased with the amount of time; however, an error in the experiment does not permit that
data to be shown. The granite is most resistant to this type of mechanical weathering.
Part 2. Geological Changes
As the two rocks were rubbed together, nothing happened as far as the eye could see.
However, the rocks did become warm in the spots where the rubbing occurred. They also began
to smell like burnt hair.
Part 3. Glacial Changes
The surface of the ice cube became sandy; most of the sand from the styrofoam tray
was stuck to it. The tray surface was pressed flat and almost stripped from the sand that was
sprinkled onto it. If a glacier moved across the surface of land, it will most likely pick up
sediments and take them with it wherever it moves to.
Part 4. Ice Expansion
The glass vial cracked because of the expansion of the ice in the jar. An everyday
example of ice expansion is seen with potholes. Rainwater and snow seeps into the cracks in
the road and as the temperatures drop, the water freezes, exerting pressure which form larger
cracks as well as the potholes.
Part 5. Expansion and Contraction Effects
Judging from the heating and rapid cooling of the glass vial in this procedure, rocks
crack as they are heated and cooled as well. For example, many igneous rocks are formed this
way. Magma becomes trapped in deep pockets within the Earth, and it cools. It then cracks into
smaller pieces of igneous rock.
Part 6. Chemical Weathering
The marble remained unchanged for the most part. The granite pieces remained the
same as well, however, the hydrochloric acid solution turned yellow. Based on the observations,
movement and pressure affect the rate of chemical weathering of rock. Without being shaken,
the rocks showed little to no weathering. Marble evidently is the most resistant to chemical
weathering.
Part 7. Oxidation
The type of weathering that occurred in this activity was chemical. It was chemical
because the oxygen that the rock was exposed to oxidized the pyrite. This was stated in the
Background section of the lab. After three days in the acidic solution there were silver, lead-like,
bits in the cup; the pyrite looked very fragile. It disintegrated. Bits and pieces were missing, and
it smelled like metal. Oxygen caused these changes to the pyrite chips.

Part 8. Organic Processes


The growing bean seeds affect the simulated rock in this procedure by cracking it. One
example of organic soil disruption would be the growing roots of a tree cracking rock due to their
search for minerals and water. Another example would be if rock were to form over tree seeds,
the strong trunk will crack through and grow past it.
Conclusion:
Throughout this lab, the weathering of rock was stimulated in various methods. Some
rock is more durable in certain conditions. For example, the granite chips were not easily
mechanically weathered in Part 1. Some rocks were too fragile for certain conditions, such as

the halite chips in Part 1. The weathering that was observed, however, displayed the way rocks
are formed within the rock cycle. They are affected by glaciers, rain, snow, air, plants, animals,
and humans in mechanical, chemical, and organic processes. This is how rocks form and
circulate through the Earth.

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