Chapter 3 Flashcards
Anion
Atoms that gain electrons and become negative ions. These are the larger of the two spheres.
Atom
The smallest particle that exists as an element.
Atomic number
The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom.
Atomic weight
The average of the atomic masses of isotopes for a given element.
Cation
Atoms which lose electrons and become positive ions. These are the smaller of the two spheres.
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 form (habit)
Refers to the common or characteristic shape of a crystal, or aggregate of crystals.
Electron
A negatively charged subatomic particle that has a negligible mass and is found outside an atom’s nucleus.
Element
A substance that cannot be decomposed into simpler substances by ordinary chemical or physical means.
Fracture
Any break or rupture in rock along which no appreciable movement has taken place.
Hardness
A mineral’s resistance to scratching and abrasion.
Ion
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 the other.
Isotope
Varieties of the same element that have different mass numbers; their nuclei contain the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons.
Luster
The appearance or quality of light reflected from the surface of a mineral.
Metallic bond
A chemical bond 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 naturally occurring, inorganic crystalline material with a unique chemical structure.
Mohs scale
A series of 10 minerals used as a standard in determining hardness.
Neutron
A subatomic particle found in the nucleus of an atom. It 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 its mass.
Polymorph
Two or more minerals having the same chemical composition but different crystalline structures. Exemplified by the diamond and graphite forms of carbon.
Proton
A positively charged subatomic particle found in the nucleus of an atom.
Silicate 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 its resistance to breaking or deforming.
