Which term describes the breaking down of rocks through chemical reactions?

The correct answer is the term that refers specifically to the decomposition and alteration of rocks through chemical reactions, which is known as chemical weathering. This process involves the chemical changes that occur in minerals within the rocks as they interact with water, acids, oxygen, and other elements in the environment. For instance, when carbon dioxide combines with rainwater, it forms carbonic acid, which can dissolve certain minerals in rocks, effectively changing their chemical structure and leading to the gradual breakdown of the rock.

In contrast, physical weathering pertains to the mechanical breakdown of rocks without any change to their chemical composition, such as through freeze-thaw cycles or abrasion. Mechanical weathering physically forces the rocks apart but does not alter their minerals. Biological weathering involves the impact of living organisms, such as plant roots growing into rock crevices and causing cracks without necessarily invoking chemical reactions. All these processes contribute to the overall weathering of rocks, but they function through different mechanisms.