How does air pollution impact chemical weathering?(1 point)
Responses
Pollutants mix with air and water to make acid rain.
Pollutants mix with air and water to make acid rain.
Pollutants cover rocks with a toxic layer that weakens them.
Pollutants cover rocks with a toxic layer that weakens them.
Pollutants react with minerals inside rocks and weaken them.
Pollutants react with minerals inside rocks and weaken them.
Pollutants prevent carbon from mixing with water.
Pollutants mix with air and water to make acid rain.
Option 1: Pollutants mix with air and water to make acid rain, which then reacts with minerals inside rocks and weakens them.
The correct response is: Pollutants react with minerals inside rocks and weaken them.
Air pollution can have a significant impact on chemical weathering, particularly through the reaction of pollutants with minerals present in rocks. When pollutants such as sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) are released into the air through industrial processes and vehicle emissions, they can mix with moisture in the atmosphere to form sulfuric acid and nitric acid. These acids can then fall to the ground as acid rain.
When acid rain comes into contact with rocks, the acids react with minerals within the rock, causing them to dissolve or undergo chemical changes. Over time, this can weaken the rock structure and lead to the breakdown of rocks into smaller pieces. The process of pollutants reacting with minerals inside rocks is known as chemical weathering.
It's important to note that acid rain is not the only form of air pollution that can impact chemical weathering. Other air pollutants, such as carbon dioxide (CO2) and ozone (O3), can also contribute to chemical weathering through different mechanisms. However, the reaction of pollutants with minerals in rocks is one of the primary ways in which air pollution affects chemical weathering.