Which type of chemical weathering process involves the reaction of minerals with water, resulting in the breakdown of the mineral lattice and formation of new clay minerals?

💡 Solution & Explanation

Hydrolysis is a major chemical weathering process in which water molecules react chemically with mineral ions in rock lattices, breaking chemical bonds and transforming primary minerals like feldspar into secondary clay minerals. Unlike carbonation, which involves carbonic acid reacting with calcium carbonate, hydrolysis directly alters the silicate structure. Geomorphological processes and weathering mechanisms are standard topics in physical geography syllabi.