CH 2 Minerals Part 1
What is an element? What are three examples?
An element is a substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical or physical means; it is one pure substance. Three examples of elements include: gold, oxygen, calcium, iron, hydrogen, etc.
What is an isotope?
An isotope are atoms of the same number of protons but different number of neutrons.
True or False: Scientists dislike groups so minerals are not in groups.
False, scientists put minerals into groups based on their similar characteristics.
What do all halide minerals contain and what is one example of one and their use for humans?
1. Halides contain a halogen ion and one or more other elements (metals)
2. Calcium Chloride - used to de-ice roads
What is streak? Is it more reliable than color when it comes to identifying a mineral?
1. Streak is the color of a mineral in its powdered form.
2. Yes
What is the smallest piece of an element?
An atom
What is a compound and two examples of compounds?
Compound - substance made of two or more elements that are chemically joined
Examples - Water (H20) and Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
What do all silicate minerals have in common? What is an example of a silicate minerals and it's use for humans?
1. Silicate minerals contain silicon and oxygen. Have to have those two elements in order to be considered a silicate mineral.
2. Quartz - used in glass and countertops (can be more answers to this second part of the question)
What is a native element? What is one example of this?
Native elements - minerals that only contain one element or type of atom
EX: gold, copper, sulfur, carbon, etc.
What does the Moh's scale represent? What does a #1 and #10 represent?
The Moh's scale represents the hardness of minerals. A #1 on the scale is the least resistant to scratching (softest) and a #10 is the most resistant to scratching.
What is the center of an atom?
The nucleus
What are radioactive materials? True or False: Scientists can measure the amount to determine the age of fossils/rocks.
1. Radioactive materials - unstable atoms that give off energy and minerals
2. True
What do all carbonate minerals have in common and one carbonate mineral and its use for humans?
1. Carbonate minerals all contain carbon, oxygen, and one or more other metallic elements in order to be considered a carbonate mineral.
2. Magnesite - Used largely for making magnesia (can be more than one answer to this question)
Do geologists identify minerals based on their characteristics?
Yes
How do minerals reflect light? How much light do metallics, submetallics, and nonmetallics reflect?
A minerals' luster is how it reflects light. Metallics reflect the most light, submetallics reflects less light than metallics, and nonmetallics reflects the least amount of light.
What are the three subatomic particles of an atom? (include the names, type of charge, and where they're found)
1. Proton - positive charge, found in nucleus
2. Neutron - neutral charge, found in nucleus
3. Electron - negative charge, surrounds/orbits the nucleus
What are minerals and what does each part of the definition mean?
Minerals - naturally occurring, inorganic (not alive) solid with an orderly crystalline structure and definite chemical composition
1. naturally occurring - forms by natural processes
2. solid substances - solid with temperature ranges normal for Earth's surface
3. orderly crystalline structure - atoms are arranged in orderly, repetitive manner and form crystals
4. definite chemical composition - most are made of compounds
What do all oxide minerals have in common? What is an example of an oxide mineral and its use for humans?
1. All oxide minerals contain oxygen and one or more other elements, usually metals.
2. Rutile - used in sunscreen and paints (answer to question could vary)
Is color the most reliable way to identify a mineral?
No, it is the least reliable.
Does the density of a mineral help determine what type of mineral it is?
Yes
What is the atomic number and what does it stand for?
Atomic number - number of protons in the nucleus
This determines what type of atom/element it is
What are the four ways minerals form?
1. Crystallization from magma
2. Precipitation
3. Pressure and Temperature
4. Hydrothermal Solutions
What do sulfates and sulfides have in common and an example of each and its use for humans?
Sulfides - sulfur and one or more other elements, usually a metal (EX: Sphalterite - used in brass and batteries)
Sulfates - sulfur, oxygen, and one or more other metals (EX: Gypsum - used in fertilizer)
What is the difference between cleavage and fracture?
Cleavage is when a mineral breaks up into sheets/flat plains and fracture is when a mineral breaks up unevenly.
What is density? Is density the number of grams per cubic centimeters in a substance?
1. Density is how tightly packed the atoms or molecules are in a substance.
2. Yes