Senior High School

NOT

Earth Science
Quarter 2 - Module 1
Weathering of Rocks

Department of Education ● Republic of the Philippines

Earth Science- Grade 12
Alternative Delivery Mode
Quarter 2 - Module 8: Weathering of Rocks
First Edition, 2020

Republic Act 8293, section 176 states that: No copyright shall subsist in any
work of the Government of the Philippines. However, prior approval of the
government agency or office wherein the work is created shall be necessary for
exploitation of such work for profit. Such agency or office may, among other things,
impose as a condition the payment of royalty.
 Borrowed materials (i.e., songs, stories, poems, pictures, photos, brand
names, trademarks, etc.) included in this book are owned by their respective
copyright holders. Every effort has been exerted to locate and seek permission to use
these materials from their respective copyright owners. The publisher and authors do
not represent nor claim ownership over them.

Published by the Department of Education – Division of Cagayan de Oro

Schools Division Superintendent: Dr. Cherry Mae L. Limbaco, CESO V

Development Team of the Module

Author: Kim S. Casiňo

Reviewers: Jean S. Macasero,Ph.D EPS, Evelyn Q. Sumanda, Cely B. Labadan,
PhD
Illustrator and Layout Artist: Jessica Bunani Cunado, Bismark E. Labadan,

Management Team
Chairperson: Cherry Mae L. Limbaco, PhD, CESO V
Schools Division Superintendent

Co-Chairpersons: Alicia E. Anghay, PhD, CESE

Assistant Schools Division Superintendent

Members: Lorebina C. Carrasco, OIC-CID Chief

Jean S. Macasero, EPS – Science
Joel D. Potane, LRMDS Manager
Lanie O. Signo, Librarian II
Gemma Pajayon, PDO II
Evelyn Q. Sumanda, School Head
Cely B. Labadan, School Head

Printed in the Philippines by

Department of Education – Division of Cagayan de Oro City
Office Address: Fr. William F. Masterson Ave Upper Balulang Cagayan de Oro
Telefax: (08822)855-0048
E-mail Address: cagayandeoro.city@deped.gov.ph
 Senior High

What I Need to Know

The Earth is surrounded by so much mystery and wonders. Have you ever
wondered how those magnificent landmarks were made? Have you ever been
curious about the roles of rocks in our planet? Well, this module will help you explore
and answer those questions.

This module would focus on rock formation and how its surrounding elements
changed it over the course of years through the process called weathering. Through
this lesson, you will understand how things in this world are interconnected to each
other like the water, wind and plants which serve as agents of weathering.

Hence, at the end of this lesson, you are expected to describe how rocks
undergo weathering (S11ES-IIa-22), which is your main objective and at the same
time to explore the different types of weathering and perform related activities
incorporated in this module.

What I Know

Pretest: MULTIPLE CHOICE:

Directions: Read each item carefully and choose the letter of the correct answer. Use
separate answer sheet of paper.

1. Which of the following human activities results to breaking down of rocks?

A. driving B. mining C. hiking D. fishing

2. How do roots of plant break down rocks?

A. Roots split the rocks apart.
B. Roots heat the rocks causing them to break.
C. Roots leave materials on the rocks which causes it to rust.
D. Roots lose its main composition because of roots’ absorption capability.
3. How does temperature break down rocks?
A. Rocks break when it is cooled.
B. Rocks break when it is heated.
C. Rocks break when it is not exposed to water.
D. Rocks break when it is heated and then cooled.
4. Some animals like the rabbits and moles dig up soil for shelter or to find food. How do
their activity contribute to the breaking down of rocks?
A. The digging of those animals breaks the rocks into small pieces.
B. Small rocks are being exposed to sunlight.
C. Animals stay in the dug holes and causes the rising of temperature inside.
 D. The food that these animals bring underground causes the breaking of rocks.
5. This process happens when water, people, animals wear away bits of rocks.
A. fermenting B. Mountain building C. weathering D. erosion
6. Which of these is NOT not an example of physical weathering?
A. frost wedging B. oxidation C. salt crystal growth D. abrasion
7. Which of these rocks is most likely to be damaged by acid rain?
A. Limestone B. Granite C. Gabbro D. Pumice
8. Which of the following is a major factor of the creation of canyons?
A. Water B. oxygen C. carbon dioxide D. iron
9. What type of rock is made when tiny particles of other rocks settle at the bottom of the
bodies of water?
A. Igneous B. Sedimentary C. Metamorphic
10. The following are types of chemical weathering EXCEPT for __________.
A. abrasion B. oxidation C. hydrolysis D. dissolution
11. Which of the following happens during frost wedging?
A. Water sips on the cracks of the rocks and then it freezes.
B. Water causes the rock to have smooth surface.
C. Water breaks the rock into pieces because of its direct impact.
D. Water creates cracks into the rocks.
12. Which of the following element causes the rusting of rocks?
A. Hydrogen B. calcium C. iron D. oxygen

13. What happens during chemical weathering?

A. Components of related rocks react to each other.
B. Exposure of rocks to friction from winds exposes it and breaks it down.
C. Roots of trees expands and breaks down rocks.
D. Temperature or water reacts to minerals from rocks.
14. What process is involved in the creation of canyons?
A. Dissolution B. oxidation C. erosion D. frost wedging
15. What happens to pieces of rock as they are transported by a river?
A. They get larger and jagged.
B. They get smaller and rounded.
C. They get smaller and jagged.
D. D. They get larger and
rounded.

WEATHERING OF ROCKS

What’ New
This activity will help you understand the process of weathering.
You will see how water affects breakdown of rocks to soil.
Activity 1: Water, Rocks and Soil

Materials:
small and soft rocks samples
glass jar with cover piece
of clean cloth
rubber band

Directions:
 Perform the procedures below by carefully following each step. Exercise proper
precaution in handling materials and/or equipment. After which, answer briefly the
guide questions below based from the findings of your activity.

1. Pour water in the glass jar. Make sure that it is only half-filled.
2. Put the small and soft rock samples that you have prepared inside the glass
jar then cover it tightly.
3. Shake the glass jar for about 2 minutes. (Be careful in shaking the glass.
Make sure that the glass you are using is thick)
4. Remove the cover of the glass jar. Replace it with the piece of cloth tied at the
brim of the bottle with the use of the rubber band.
5. Turn the glass jar upside down to empty the water in the bottle.
6. When the water is gone, remove the piece of cloth in the glass jar and
examine the rock samples that you placed inside.

Questions:
1. What have you observed in your rock samples?

2. What do you think is the purpose of water in the activity?

3. What have you realized in this activity?

What Is It

WEATHERING

The activity that you have performed is a demonstration of rock weathering.

Were your rocks broken into pieces? What could have possibly cause it? Well, to
understand further the process behind the activity, let us explore first the process of
weathering.

When rocks and minerals break down into pieces or dissolve, it is called
weathering. Weathering happens not just on its own. This is possible through the
following agents: water, ice, acids, salts, plants, animals, and changes in temperature.
The more exposed the rock is to weathering, the more it becomes very vulnerable to
breaking. For example, rocks buried beneath the surface are less vulnerable than
those rocks on the surface areas because they are very exposed to agents like wind
and water.

Once rocks have been broken down into tiny pieces, a process called erosion
transports them away into different areas. The process of weathering and erosion is
responsible for the creation of some famous landmarks around the world like the
Delicate Arch in Utah and Kapurpurawan Rock Formations in Ilocos Norte,
Philippines.

One of the most natural creation resulted from erosion is the canyon or a deep,
narrow channel with steep sides.
 Figure 2: river canyon formed after years of weathering and erosion

A river canyon is made when the pressure from a river cuts deep into the river
bed. The sediments then from the river bed were carried downstream (erosion) which
resulted to the creation of canyons. The river that lies down at the bottom of the
canyon
2
is called entrenched river. What makes it different from other rivers is that the river from
canyons do not change its course.

For thousands of years weathering and erosion gradually and constantly

change the landscape of Earth. Hence, no matter how hard the rock is it cannot resist
the forces of nature-weathering and erosion

TYPES OF WEATHERING

Figure 1: Types of Weathering: Chemical Weathering vs. Physical Weathering

The process of weathering is divided in 2 types-physical and chemical weathering.

PHYSICAL WEATHERING

Physical weathering, also known as mechanical weathering, takes place when

rocks are broken into smaller pieces because of any natural or anthropogenic forces.
This process only changes the physical appearance of the rock and does not alter
any of its composition. The following processes below contributes to the physical
weathering of rocks:

1. Frost wedging happens when water gets inside the cracks of rocks. The
water inside the rock freezes which cause the crack’s expansion. The cracks
get deepen and more water enters and freezes. The alternate freezing and
thawing episodes breaks the rock into small pieces along the joint lines.

Figure 3: Process of Frost wedging

3
2. Abrasion takes place when rocks wear away because of constant collision of
loose particles
3. Biological activity is sometimes considered a different type of weathering,
biological weathering. However, many still acknowledges it as part of physical
weathering as the process only changes the physical appearance of rocks.
Biological activity includes plants and animals as agents of weathering. For
example, when roots of plants grow, they exert more pressure to rocks which
causes them to slowly break. Animals like rabbits can move rock fragments to
the surface as they dig into soil. Rocks get to be more exposed to more
weathering.
4. Salt crystal growth is another factor of physical disintegration of rocks. The
force exerted by salt crystal, formed when water evaporates from the rock’s
pores or cracks, causes the rock to fall apart.

CHEMICAL WEATHERING
Chemical weathering on the other hand changes the composition or molecular
structure of the rock. For example, when carbon dioxide from the air or soil combines
with water, this can dissolve the rock. The process itself is called carbonation.
Carbonation produces a weak acid, called carbonic acid. Other processes of chemical
weathering includes the following:
 Figure 4: Types of Chemical Weathering

1. Hydrolysis is a chemical type of weathering which changes the composition

of minerals from rocks when they react with acidic water. This results to the
production of clays and soluble salts.
2. When iron in rocks get to be exposed to oxygen, it creates iron oxide. The
iron oxide produces a rusty-colored weathered surface to the rocks. This
process is called Oxidation.
3. Dissolution is the process in which rocks weather because of its reaction to
acids. When an acidic water (rainwater with dissolved carbon dioxide) reacts
with rocks, minerals from rocks dissolve leaving them with holes or cavities.
4
4. The last type of chemical weathering is microbial activity. Microbes break
down minerals from rocks by changing its composition making it more
vulnerable to weathering. An example to this is the presence of lichen in a
symbiotic relationship. This lichen is both fungi and algae. Fungi releases
chemicals which wears down the minerals from rocks. The minerals were
then eaten by algae.

What’s More

Activity 2: Complete Me
Direction: Fill in the missing information below using the words found inside the box.
rocks canyons sand river
cracks time colder erosion

Weathering happens over 1. _____________. The process involves 2.

______________which slowly dissolve or break down into smaller pieces. Once they
are broken into pieces, they are transported to other areas in a process called 3.
_______________ . In 4. _____________ areas, ice can get in between rocks and
soil which creates 5. _____________. Wind can blow 6. _____________ on to
surface which will cause those surfaces to wear down . 7. _____________ on a high
elevation place and runs down on low elevation creates 8. ______________.

Activity 3: Knowledge Check

Direction: identify which process is involved on the following activities. Check the space
for your answer.

Activity Weathering Erosion

1. River flowing through fields as it
changes its course
2. Avalanche
3. A gully formed by running
water, eroding sharply into soil
4. Big trucks wearing away
cemented roads
5. Rock cracked due to Sun’s heat
6. Marble statues slowly dissolving
because of Acid rain
7. Sand carried away by the wind

8. The expansion of ice on a cold

night breaking up a road surface
9. Flash flood
10. Cracking of rocks due to
mining

What I have learned

Activity 4: Fill me in.
Direction: Describe how rocks undergo weathering process by filling in the
information for each shape. Use a separate sheet of paper for your
answer.

Weathering is
 It is different from
Erosion because

It has 2 types with the

following differences

Each of these types have the following branches

What I Can Do
Activity 5: Weathering Around Me
Direction: Read the statement below and write your answer on the space provided.

Check your house for any weathering or eroding edges or surfaces. Is the structure
foundation of your house strong or weak? Support your answer

______________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________ ______

______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________ ______________

______________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________ ______________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

SUMMARY
• Rocks are hard, compact and solid. Once these rocks are exposed to certain agents
in the environment , they continuously break into small pieces and this process is
called weathering.

• Different factors act constantly of rocks to break and change them to soil. These
factors include heat, air, water, plants, animals and man.

• Erosion transports the broken pieces of rocks into different areas.

• Physical weathering also known as mechanical weathering is the breaking of the
physical properties of rocks or disaggregation.

• Chemical weathering is the breaking of rocks due to the change of its composition

• Breaking of rocks through physical weathering involves the following processes: frost
wedging, abrasion, biological activity, and salt crystal growth.

• On the other hand, chemical weathering may involve the following processes:
hydrolysis, oxidation, dissolution, and microbial activity.
 9

Assessment: (Post-Test)
Pretest: MULTIPLE CHOICE:
Directions: Read each item carefully and choose the letter of the correct answer. Use
separate answer sheet of paper.

1. Which of the following human activities results to breaking down of rocks?

A. driving B. mining C. hiking D. fishing
2. How do roots of plant break down rocks?
A. Roots split the rocks apart.
B. Roots heat the rocks causing them to break.
C. Roots leave materials on the rocks which causes it to rust.
D. Roots lose its main composition because of roots’ absorption capability.
3. How does temperature break down rocks? A. Rocks break when it is cooled.
B. Rocks break when it is heated.
C. Rocks break when it is not exposed to water.
D. Rocks break when it is heated and then cooled.
4. Some animals like the rabbits and moles dig up soil for shelter or to find food. How do
their activity contribute to the breaking down of rocks?
A. The digging of those animals breaks the rocks into small pieces.
B. Small rocks are being exposed to sunlight.
C. Animals stay in the dug holes and causes the rising of temperature inside.
D. The food that these animals bring underground causes the breaking of rocks.
5. This process happens when water, people, animals wear away bits of rocks.
A. fermenting B. Mountain building C. weathering D. erosion
6. Which of these is NOT not an example of physical weathering?
B. frost wedging B. oxidation C. salt crystal growth D. abrasion
7. Which of these rocks is most likely to be damaged by acid rain?
A. Limestone B. Granite C. Gabbro D. Pumice
8. Which of the following is a major factor of the creation of canyons?
A. Water B. oxygen C. carbon dioxide D. iron
9. What type of rock is made when tiny particles of other rocks settle at the bottom of the
bodies of water?
A. Igneous B. Sedimentary C. Metamorphic
10. The following are types of chemical weathering EXCEPT for __________.
A. abrasion B. oxidation C. hydrolysis D. dissolution
11. Which of the following happens during frost wedging?
A. Water sips on the cracks of the rocks and then it freezes.
B. Water causes the rock to have smooth surface.
C. Water breaks the rock into pieces because of its direct impact.
D. Water creates cracks into the rocks.
12. Which of the following element causes the rusting of rocks?
A. Hydrogen B. calcium C. iron D. oxygen
13. What happens during chemical weathering?
A. Components of related rocks react to each other.
B. Exposure of rocks to friction from winds exposes it and breaks it down.
 C. Roots of trees expands and breaks down rocks.
D. Temperature or water reacts to minerals from rocks.
14. What process is involved in the creation of canyons?
A. Dissolution B. oxidation C. erosion D. frost wedging
15. What happens to pieces of rock as they are transported by a river?
16. A. They get larger and jagged.
B. They get smaller and rounded.
C. They get smaller and jagged.
D. D. They get larger and
rounded.

References
BOOK

Oliva, Mylene D.G. Earth Science (STEM Track). DIWA Learning Systems INC. Makati
City: DIWA Learning Systems INC, 2016.

MANUALS

DepEd Cagayan de Oro City Division. "Senior High School - Google Drive." Bitly |
Custom URL Shortener, Link Management & Branded Links. Accessed May 30,
2020. https://bit.ly/3dF9Kdb.

Deped Negros Occidental Division. “Modified In-School Off-School Approach Modules

(MISOSA). Learning Resource Portal. Accessed May 23, 2020.
https://lrmds.deped.gov.ph/detail/1459

WEBSITES

The Editors of National Geographic. "Weathering." National Geographic. Accessed June

2, 2020. https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/weathering/

The Editors of National Geographic. “Canyon”. National Geographic. Accessed June 20,
2020. https://bit.ly/3hZAg3U

The Editors of BBC. “The Rock Cycle.” BBC. Accessed June 3 2020.
https://www.national geographic.org/encyclopedia/weathering/

________. “Physical Weathering vs. Chemical Weathering”.Diffzi. Accessed June 20,

2020. https://bit.ly/31gUksS

________. “4 types of Chemical Weathering”. ThoughtCo. Accessed June 20, 2020.

https://bit.ly/2VcOaWI
________. “Marble Canyon”. Tripadvisor. Accessed June 20, 2020.
https://bit.ly/2VerJQQ

_________. “Physical or Mechanical Weathering”. Eschooltoday. Accessed June 20,

2020. https://bit.ly/3fTV7Uz

13
For inquiries and feedback, please write or call:

Department of Education – Bureau of Learning Resources (DepEd -BLR)

DepEd Division of Cagayan de Oro City

Fr. William F. Masterson Ave Upper Balulang Cagayan de Oro
Telefax: ((08822)855 -0048
E -mail Address: cagayandeoro.city@deped.gov.ph