Matter and Atoms
The subatomic particles known as protons and neutrons are tightly bound together inside the central ________ of an atom.
Nucleus
________ bonds form when two nonmetal atoms share electrons to form strong molecular structures.
Covalent
A mineral must be ________, meaning it is formed entirely from non-living matter.
Inorganic
True or False: Over 90% of Earth’s crust is composed of the carbonate mineral group.
False (Correction: Silicates)
The scale used to measure a mineral's relative resistance to being scratched, ranging from 1 (Talc) to 10 (Diamond), is called the ________.
Mohs Hardness Scale
True or false: According to the Octet Rule, atoms gain, lose, or share electrons to achieve a stable outer shell of 6 valence electrons.
False (Correction: 8 valence electrons)
Metallic bonds are best described as:
A) The transfer of electrons from a metal to a nonmetal
B) The sharing of electrons between nonmetal atoms
C) Metal cations surrounded by a freely flowing "sea of electrons"
C) Metal cations surrounded by a freely flowing "sea of electrons"
True or False: Synthetic materials manufactured in a lab can be classified as true natural minerals because they share identical chemical compositions with earth-formed specimens.
False (Correction: They cannot be classified as minerals because they are not naturally occurring).
What mineral group does Calcite ($\text{CaCO}_3$) belong to?
A) Silicates
B) Oxides
C) Carbonates
D) Halides
C) Carbonates
True or False: A mineral’s streak is the color of its powder when scraped across an unglazed porcelain plate.
True
An atom that gains electrons acquires a net negative charge and is classified as a(n):
A) Cation
B) Anion
C) Isotope
D) Compound
B) Anion
True or False: An atom that gains electrons becomes a positively charged ion called a cation.
False (Correction: An atom that loses electrons becomes a cation, OR an atom that gains electrons becomes an anion).
Solid matter with an orderly, repeating three-dimensional arrangement of atoms possesses a ________.
Crystalline Structure
Which process causes minerals like Rock Salt to form when bodies of mineral-rich water evaporate?
A) Hydrothermal injection
B) Subsurface metamorphism
C) Precipitation from solution
D) Rapid magmatic cooling
C) Precipitation from solution
A mineral’s tendency to break along smooth, flat structural planes of weak atomic bonding is known as ________.
Cleavage
Atoms of the same element that have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons (changing their atomic mass).
Isotopes
Define valence electrons and explain their role in chemical bonding.
Valence electrons are the electrons located in the outermost energy level of an atom; they control how atoms interact and form chemical bonds.
Name all 5 five criteria required for a substance to be scientifically classified as a mineral.
1) Naturally occurring
2) Inorganic
3) Solid
4) Definite chemical composition
5) Crystalline structure
Which of the following is an example of a Native Element mineral?
A) Quartz (SiO)
B) Native Copper (Cu)
C) Halite (NaCl)
D) Pyrite (FeS)
B) Native Copper (Cu)
A mineral sample cannot be scratched by a copper penny (Hardness ~3.5) but can be scratched by a steel nail (Hardness ~5.5). Which mineral could it be?
A) Talc (Hardness 1)
B) Gypsum (Hardness 2)
C) Fluorite (Hardness 4)
D) Quartz (Hardness 7)
C) Fluorite (Hardness 4)
Which two elements make up the vast majority of Earth's crust minerals?
A) Iron and Carbon
B) Silicon and Oxygen
C) Sodium and Chlorine
D) Aluminum and Hydrogen
B) Silicon and Oxygen
An ________ bond is formed by the complete transfer of electrons from a metal atom to a nonmetal atom, resulting in oppositely charged ions that attract each other (e.g., NaCl)
Ionic
Slow cooling of deep subsurface magma results in:
A) Microscopic crystal structures
B) Amorphous glassy textures
C) Large, well-defined crystal structures
D) Instant evaporation of mineral solutions
C) Large, well-defined crystal structures
Define a silicon-oxygen tetrahedron and state which major mineral group contains it.
A pyramid-shaped complex ion formed by silicon and oxygen atoms that serves as the fundamental building block for all Silicate minerals.
Explain why streak color is a more reliable identification property than external mineral color
External color can change significantly due to trace impurities (like Fluorite appearing purple, green, or yellow), whereas streak color represents the true color of the powdered mineral and remains completely consistent.