Here's why:
* Chemical weathering involves the breakdown of rocks and minerals through chemical reactions, often with water, acids, or oxygen.
* Kaolinite (Al₂Si₂O₅(OH)₄) is a clay mineral formed by the chemical weathering of feldspar, a common mineral in igneous and metamorphic rocks.
* Feldspar reacts with water and carbonic acid (formed from dissolved carbon dioxide) to form kaolinite, along with dissolved ions like potassium, sodium, and calcium.
Other silicate minerals like quartz can also be altered by chemical weathering, but they are more resistant to breakdown than feldspar. Kaolinite is a common product of weathering because it is relatively stable and can accumulate in soils and sediments.
