CARBONATION – NATURAL SOLUTION WEATHERING
✓ Carbonation refers to reactions of carbon dioxide to give carbonates, bicarbonates, and carbonic acid.
✓ Carbonation weathering is a process in which atmospheric carbon dioxide leads to solution weathering.
✓ As rain falls, it dissolves small amounts of carbon dioxide from the air, forming a weak acid that can dissolve some minerals like limestone (calcium carbonate) (solution weathering).
✓When carbonic acid reacts with limestone, it produces calcium bicarbonate, which is partially soluble in water (dissolution weathering.
✓ Caves are formed when underground water containing carbonic acid travels through blocks of limestone, dissolves out the limestone, and leaves empty pockets (caves) behind (E.g. Karst topography).
✓Carbonation process speeds up with a decrease in temperature because colder water holds more dissolved carbon dioxide gas.
