Chapter 10 Weathering and Soil Formation
Oxidation
a chemical reaction in which an element combines with oxygen to form an oxide
Soil
a loose mixture of small mineral fragments and organic materials
acid precitiation
rain, sleet, or snow that contains a high concentration of acids
Parent Rock
rock that is the source of soil
soil structure
the arrangement of soil particles
Weathering
the breakdown of rock into smaller and smaller pieces by mechanical or chemical means.
Mechanical Weathering
the breakdown of rock into smaller pieces by physical means
Chemical Weathering
the chemical breakdown of rocks and minerals into new substances
Abrasion
the grinding and wearing down of rock by other rock or sand particals
Bedrock
the layer of rock beneath soil
Leaching
the process by which rainwater dissolves and carries away the minerals and nutrients in topsoil
Differential Weathering
the process by which softer, less weather-resistant rocks wear away, leaving harder, more weather-resistant rocks behind
Erosion
the removal and transports of material by wind, water, or ice
soil texture
the soil quality that is based on the proportions of soil particles
Topsoil
the top layer of soil that genrally contains humus
Soil Conservation
the various methods by which humans take care of the soil
Humus
very small particals of decayed plant and animal materials in soil