text: what is the process by which water dissolves certain materials in the soil and carries them away? a. leaching b. weathering c. abrasion a leaching  1 : to dissolve out by the action of a percolating liquid  2 : to subject to the action of percolating liquid (as water) in order to separate the soluble components 3 a : to remove (nutritive or harmful elements) from soil by percolation b : to draw out or remove as if by percolation 