Chapter 2 Vocab

Question 0

The smallest particle that exists as an element.

Answer 0

Atom

Question 1

The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom.

Answer 1

Atomic number

Question 2

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.

Answer 2

Chemical bind

Question 3

Chemical Compounds

Answer 3

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.

Question 4

Cleavage

Answer 4

The tendency of a mineral to break along planes of weak bonding.

Question 5

Color

Answer 5

A phenomenon of light by which otherwise identical objects may be differentiated.

Question 6

Covalent Bond

Answer 6

A chemical bond produced by the sharing of electrons.

Question 7

Crystal Shape/Habit

Answer 7

The common or characteristic shape of a crystal or aggregate of crystals.

Question 8

Dark Silicates/Ferromagnesian Silicates

Answer 8

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.

Question 9

Density

Answer 9

The weight per unit volume of a particular material.

Question 10

Electrons

Answer 10

A negatively charged subatomic particle that has a negligible mass and is found outside the atoms nucleus.

Question 11

Element

Answer 11

A substance that cannot be decomposed into simpler substances by ordinary chemical or physical means.

Question 12

Fracture

Answer 12

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.

Question 13

Hardness

Answer 13

A minerals resistance to scratching and abrasion.

Question 14

Ions

Answer 14

An atom or molecule that possesses an electrical charge.

Question 15

Ionic Bond

Answer 15

A chemical bond between two oppositely charged ions formed by the transfer of valence electrons from one atom to another.

Question 16

Isotopes

Answer 16

Varieties of the same element that have different mass numbers; their nuclei contain the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons.

Question 17

Light Silicates/Non Ferromagnesian Silicates

Answer 17

Silicate minerals that lack iron and/or magnesium. They are generally lighter in color and have lower specific gravitates than dark silicates.

Question 18

Luster

Answer 18

The appearance or quality of light reflected from the surface of a mineral.

Question 19

Mass Number

Answer 19

The sum of the number of neutrons and protons in the nucleus of an atom.

Question 20

Metallic Bond

Answer 20

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.

Question 21

Mineral

Answer 21

A natural occurring, inorganic crystalline material with a unique chemical structure.

Question 22

Mineralogy

Answer 22

Study of minerals

Question 23

Mineral Resource

Answer 23

All discovered and undiscovered deposits of a useful mineral that can be extracted now or at sometime in the future.

Question 24

MOHs Scale

Answer 24

A series of 10 minerals used as a standard in determining hardness.

Question 25

Neutrons

Answer 25

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.

Question 26

Nucleus

Answer 26

The small, heavy core of an atom that contains all of its positive charge and most of it’s math.

Question 27

Octet Rule

Answer 27

Atoms combine in order that each may have the electron arrangement of a noble gas; that is, the outer energy level contains eight electrons.

Question 28

Ore

Answer 28

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.

Question 29

Periodic Table

Answer 29

The tabular arrangement of the elements according to atomic number.

Question 30

Polymerization

Answer 30

The process of linking the same molecules together to form a chain or three-dimensional structure.

Question 31

Protons

Answer 31

A positively charged subatomic particle found in the nucleus of an atom.

Question 32

Radioactive Decay

Answer 32

The spontaneous decay of certain unstable atomic nuclei.

Question 33

Reserves

Answer 33

Already identified deposits from which minerals can be extracted profitably.

Question 34

Rock

Answer 34

A consolidated mixture of minerals.

Question 35

Silicates

Answer 35

Any one of the numerous minerals that have the silicon-oxygen tetrahedron as their basic structure.

Question 36

Silicon-Oxygen Tetrahedron

Answer 36

A structure composed of four oxygen atoms surrounding a silicon atom that constitutes the basic building block of silicate minerals.

Question 37

Specific Gravity

Answer 37

The ratio of a substance’s weight to the weight of an equal volume of water.

Question 38

Streak

Answer 38

The color of a mineral in powdered form.

Question 39

Tenacity

Answer 39

Describes a mineral’s toughness or it’s resistance to breaking or deforming.

Question 40

Valence Electrons

Answer 40

The electrons involved in the bonding process; the electrons occupying the highest principal energy level of an atom.