Chapter 2: Matter and Mineral

Question 1

List five characteristics an Earth material should have in order to be considered a mineral.

Question 2

Based on the definition of a mineral, which of the following materials are not classified as minerals, and why: gold; water; synthetic diamonds; ice; and wood.

Question 3

Define the term rock. How do rocks differ from minerals?

Question 4

What is the significance of valence electrons?

Question 5

Why is color not always a useful property in mineral identification? Give an example of a mineral that supports your answer.

Question 6

Why does quartz lack cleavage?

Question 7

Explain the difference between the terms silicon and silicate.

Question 8

Define Mineral

Question 8

Differentiate rock from mineral

Question 9

Building blocks of minerals

Answer 9

Atoms

Question 10

This determines the atomic number and name of element

Answer 10

number of protons

Question 11

A large collection of electrically neutral atoms, all having the same atomic number.

Answer 11

element

Question 12

A resulting product when atoms combine to form complex substances

Answer 12

Compounds

Question 13

How do atoms bond?

Answer 13

by gaining, losing, or sharing electrons with other atoms

Question 14

one or more electrons are transferred from one atom to another, giving the atoms a net positive or negative charge

Answer 14

Ionic Bonding

Question 15

The resulting electrically charged atoms

Answer 15

ions

Question 16

consist of oppositely charged ions assembled in a regular, crystalline structure that allows for the maximum attraction of ions, given their sizes.

Answer 16

Ionic Compounds

Question 17

the interatomic linkage that results from the sharing of an electron pair between two atoms.

Answer 17

Covalent Bond

A covalent bond forms when the bonded atoms have a lower total energy than that of widely separated atoms.

Question 18

are variants of the same element that have a different mass number

Answer 18

Isotopes

Question 19

the total number of neutrons plus protons found in an atom’s nucleus

Answer 19

Mass number

Question 20

A process wherein some isotopes become unstable and disintegrate naturally

Answer 20

Radioactivity

Question 21

What are the properties of minerals?

Answer 21

1. crystal shape (habit)
2. luster
3. color
4. streak
5. tenacity
6. hardness
7. cleavage
8. fracture
9. density/specific gravity

Question 22

What are the other special physical and chemical properties of minerals?

Answer 22

1. taste
2. smell
3. elasticity
4. feel
5. magnetism
6. double refraction
7. chemical reaction to hydrochloric acid

Question 23

These elements make up the bulk of these minerals and represent over 98 percent (by weight) of Earth’s continental crust.

Answer 23

1. oxygen
2. silicon
3. aluminum
4. iron
5. calcium
6. sodium
7. potassium
8. magnesium

Question 24

The most common mineral group

Answer 24

Silicates

Question 25

All silicate minerals have this fundamental building block

Answer 25

negatively charged silicon–oxygen tetrahedron

Question 26

List the non-silicate minerals

Answer 26

1. oxides
2. sulfides
3. sulfates
4. halides
5. native elements

Question 27

most common rock forming minerals

Answer 27

carbonate minerals

e.g. calcite and dolomite

Question 28

Nonsilicate minerals frequently found in sedimentary rocks

Answer 28

halite and gypsum

Question 29

The endowment of useful minerals ultimately available commercially

Answer 29

Mineral resources

Question 30

Resources that are already identified deposits from which minerals can be extracted profitably as well as known deposits that are not yet economically or technologicallyrecoverable

Answer 30

Reserves

Question 31

This term is used to denote those useful metallic minerals that can be mined for a profit, as well as some nonmetallic minerals, such as fluorite and sulfur, that contain useful substances.

Answer 31

Ore