AICE Geography Practice Exam

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What mineral's presence in granite makes it prone to hydrolysis?

Quartz

Calcite

Feldspar

Feldspar is the mineral in granite that makes it particularly prone to hydrolysis. Hydrolysis is a chemical weathering process where minerals react with water to form new minerals and dissolved substances. Feldspar, which is a prominent component of granite, is especially susceptible to this process due to its structure. When feldspar is exposed to water and acidic conditions, it can break down into clay minerals and soluble ions, such as potassium and sodium. This transformation plays a significant role in soil formation and can influence the overall stability and integrity of granite rock formations over time.

In granite, the abundance of feldspar compared to the other minerals means that the weathering process through hydrolysis will particularly affect this component, leading to the formation of clay minerals, which are often more chemically stable than feldspar in the natural environment.

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Clay

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