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Science vocabulary
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| weathering | the mechanical and chemical processes that change Earth’s surface over time. |
| mechanical weathering | physical processes that naturally break rocks into smaller pieces. |
| chemical weathering | the process that changes the composition of rocks and minerals due to exposure to the environment. |
| oxidation | the process that combines the element oxygen with other elements or molecules. |
| soil | a mixture of weathered rock, rock fragments, decayed organic matter, water, and air |
| organic matter | remains of something that was once alive. |
| pores | small holes and spaces in soil. |
| decomposition | the breaking down of dead organisms and organic waste. |
| parent material: | the starting material of soil consisting of rock or sediment that is subject to weathering. |
| climate | the long-term average weather conditions that occur in a particular region. |
| topography | the shape and steepness of the landscape. |
| biota | all of the organisms that live in a region. |
| horizons | layers of soil formed from the movement of the products of weathering |