Chapter 2 Vocab Flashcards
The smallest particle that exists as an element.
Atom
The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom.
Atomic number
A strong attractive force that exists between atoms in a substance. It involves the transfer or sharing of electrons that allows each atom to attain a full valence shell.
Chemical bind
Chemical Compounds
A substance formed by a denial combination of two or more elements in definite proportions and usually having properties different from those of its constituent elements.
Cleavage
The tendency of a mineral to break along planes of weak bonding.
Color
A phenomenon of light by which otherwise identical objects may be differentiated.
Covalent Bond
A chemical bond produced by the sharing of electrons.
Crystal Shape/Habit
The common or characteristic shape of a crystal or aggregate of crystals.
Dark Silicates/Ferromagnesian Silicates
Silicate minerals containing ions of iron and/or magnesium in their structure. They are dark in color and have a higher specific gravity than non ferromagnesian silicates.
Density
The weight per unit volume of a particular material.
Electrons
A negatively charged subatomic particle that has a negligible mass and is found outside the atoms nucleus.
Element
A substance that cannot be decomposed into simpler substances by ordinary chemical or physical means.
Fracture
One of the basic physical properties of minerals. It relates to the breakage of minerals when there are no planes of weakness in the crystalline structure. Examples include conchoidal, irregular, and splintery.
Hardness
A minerals resistance to scratching and abrasion.
Ions
An atom or molecule that possesses an electrical charge.
Ionic Bond
A chemical bond between two oppositely charged ions formed by the transfer of valence electrons from one atom to another.
Isotopes
Varieties of the same element that have different mass numbers; their nuclei contain the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons.
Light Silicates/Non Ferromagnesian Silicates
Silicate minerals that lack iron and/or magnesium. They are generally lighter in color and have lower specific gravitates than dark silicates.
Luster
The appearance or quality of light reflected from the surface of a mineral.
Mass Number
The sum of the number of neutrons and protons in the nucleus of an atom.
Metallic Bond
A chemical bind present in all metals that may be characterized as an extreme type of electron sharing in which the electrons move freely from atom to atom.
Mineral
A natural occurring, inorganic crystalline material with a unique chemical structure.
Mineralogy
Study of minerals
Mineral Resource
All discovered and undiscovered deposits of a useful mineral that can be extracted now or at sometime in the future.
MOHs Scale
A series of 10 minerals used as a standard in determining hardness.
Neutrons
A subatomic particle found in the nucleus of an atom. The neutron is electrically neutral, with a mass approximately equal to that of a proton.
Nucleus
The small, heavy core of an atom that contains all of its positive charge and most of it’s math.
Octet Rule
Atoms combine in order that each may have the electron arrangement of a noble gas; that is, the outer energy level contains eight electrons.
Ore
Usually a useful metallic mineral that can be minded at a profit. The term is also applied to certain nonmetallic minerals such as fluorite and sulfur.
Periodic Table
The tabular arrangement of the elements according to atomic number.
Polymerization
The process of linking the same molecules together to form a chain or three-dimensional structure.
Protons
A positively charged subatomic particle found in the nucleus of an atom.
Radioactive Decay
The spontaneous decay of certain unstable atomic nuclei.
Reserves
Already identified deposits from which minerals can be extracted profitably.
Rock
A consolidated mixture of minerals.
Silicates
Any one of the numerous minerals that have the silicon-oxygen tetrahedron as their basic structure.
Silicon-Oxygen Tetrahedron
A structure composed of four oxygen atoms surrounding a silicon atom that constitutes the basic building block of silicate minerals.
Specific Gravity
The ratio of a substance’s weight to the weight of an equal volume of water.
Streak
The color of a mineral in powdered form.
Tenacity
Describes a mineral’s toughness or it’s resistance to breaking or deforming.
Valence Electrons
The electrons involved in the bonding process; the electrons occupying the highest principal energy level of an atom.
