The breaking down and wearing away of rocks by the atmosphere is called weathering. Here's why:
* Weathering is a broad term that encompasses all the ways rocks are broken down and changed by the environment.
* Oxidation is a specific type of weathering, where oxygen reacts with minerals in rocks, causing them to break down. This is often seen as rusting in iron-containing rocks.
Other types of weathering include:
* Physical weathering: Breaking rocks into smaller pieces without changing their chemical composition. Examples include frost wedging (water freezing and expanding in cracks) and abrasion (rocks rubbing against each other).
* Chemical weathering: Changing the chemical composition of rocks. Examples include acid rain dissolving limestone, and hydrolysis (water reacting with minerals).
So, while oxidation is a form of weathering, it's not the only way rocks are broken down by the atmosphere.
