Answer
The formation of soil is promoted by the properties of water as follows: Because water expands when it freezes, it can enter cracks in rock and break off pieces when it freezes; Because water shows cohesion it can binds to and works to remove smaller pieces of rock from larger ones even without freezing; Water is a useful polar solvent which dissolves many substances such as ions.
Work Step by Step
Review Concept 3.2 and skim Concept 37.1. Use your imagination to see how the properties of water (Ch. 3) fit into the description of soil formation in this chapter (such as the origin of soil particles in bedrock).
