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------------------------------------------------ Limestone caves form due to the _ __ of the calcite component.

(Fill in the blanks with the appropriate process or condition that contributes to the formation of limestone caves.)

Limestone caves are formed due to the chemical weathering of calcite, as carbonic acid dissolves the limestone, which leads to the development of caves and the precipitation of calcite to form stalactites and stalagmites.

Explanation:

Limestone caves form due to the chemical weathering of the calcite component, which is primarily calcium carbonate (CaCO3). This process occurs when rainwater, which absorbs CO2 from the atmosphere to form carbonic acid, reacts with the limestone.

Over time, this acidic water dissolves the calcite, enlarging cracks and eventually forming vast cave systems. As the groundwater seeps into the cave, it carries dissolved calcium carbonate.

When this water reaches the cave's air, the CO2 degasses, the water evaporates, and the equilibrium of the reaction shifts, allowing calcite to precipitate and form stalactites (hanging from the ceiling) and stalagmites (growing from the floor).