Ch. 3 Vocab Flashcards
Smallest unit of a chemical element
Atom
A substance in which the atoms of two or more elements bond together
Chemical compound
A solid in which all the atoms are arranged in a regular, repeating pattern
Crystal
a thing that is composed of two or more separate elements; a mixture
Compound
Tiny negatively charged particles that orbit the nucleus
Electron
A substance in which all of the atoms have the same number of protons
Element
An atom with a different number of electrons and protons.
Ion
Substance that physical objects are made of
Matter
a naturally occurring, inorganic, crystalline solid with a characteristic chemical composition
Mineral
the smallest possible amount of a chemical substance
Molecule
Neutral particle in the nucleus of an atom
Neutron
Center of an atom, made of protons and neutrons.
Nucleus
Positively charged particle in a nucleus
Proton
mineral containing silicon atoms bonded to oxygen atoms
Silicate
the tendency of a mineral to break along certain planes to make smooth surfaces
Cleavage
amount of mass per unit of volume of a substance
Density
the way a mineral breaks when it is not broken along a cleavage plane
Fracture
the ability of a rock to resist scratching
Hardness
the way light reflects off of the surface of a mineral
Luster
The color of the powder in a mineral
Streak
Molten rock that has reached earths surface
Lava
A solid mixture of minerals or mineral grains
Rocks
Any material that is cut and polished to use in jewelry
Gemstone
Mineral deposit that contains enough minerals to be mined for profit
Ore
