Which process breaks down rocks and minerals through chemical means?

While oxidation is a specific type of chemical weathering involving the reaction of minerals with oxygen, the broader term that encompasses various processes breaking down rocks and minerals through chemical means is weathering.

Weathering refers to the process of disintegrating and decomposing rocks and minerals at or near the Earth's surface through physical, chemical, and biological mechanisms. The chemical aspect of weathering specifically includes processes such as hydrolysis, oxidation, and carbonation which lead to the alteration of rock minerals into new substances.

Erosion pertains to the physical removal and transportation of material from one location to another by agents like water, wind, and ice, which is distinct from how chemical changes affect the composition of the rocks themselves. Deposition then refers to the process where these eroded materials are laid down in new locations, also unrelated to the chemical breakdown of materials. Therefore, the correct response relating to the chemical breakdown of rocks and minerals is weathering, particularly focusing on its chemical component.