Question

a river speeds up on a steep slope. predict what happens to erosion and deposition along that section and explain why.
your answer
which environmental factor would most likely increase the rate of chemical weathering?
cold, dry climate
hot, wet climate
cold, wet climate
hot, dry climate
which type of rock is most susceptible to chemical weathering by acid rain?
basalt
granite
limestone
quartzite

Explanation:

• For the first question: When a river speeds up on a steep slope, the water has more kinetic energy. This increased energy allows the river to carry more sediment (higher erosive power). As a result, erosion increases because the faster - moving water can dislodge and transport more particles. Deposition decreases because the water is not losing enough energy to drop the sediment.
• For the second question: Chemical weathering is a process where rocks are broken down by chemical reactions. In a hot, wet climate, there is more water (a key reactant in many chemical weathering processes like hydrolysis) and higher temperatures (which increase the rate of chemical reactions). So, a hot, wet climate increases the rate of chemical weathering.
• For the third question: Limestone is mainly composed of calcium carbonate (\(CaCO_3\)). Acid rain (which contains acids like sulfuric acid \(H_2SO_4\) and nitric acid \(HNO_3\)) reacts with calcium carbonate in a chemical reaction. For example, \(CaCO_3 + H_2SO_4=CaSO_4 + H_2O+CO_2\uparrow\). Basalt, granite, and quartz do not react as readily with acid rain.

Answer:

• First question: Erosion increases, deposition decreases. Faster - moving water has more energy to erode and less to deposit.
• Second question: Hot, wet climate.
• Third question: Limestone.