Chapter 3

Question 1

Anion

Answer 1

Atoms that gain electrons and become negative ions. These are the larger of the two spheres.

Question 2

Atom

Answer 2

The smallest particle that exists as an element.

Question 3

Atomic number

Answer 3

The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom.

Question 4

Atomic weight

Answer 4

The average of the atomic masses of isotopes for a given element.

Question 5

Cation

Answer 5

Atoms which lose electrons and become positive ions. These are the smaller of the two spheres.

Question 6

Cleavage

Answer 6

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

Question 7

Color

Answer 7

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

Question 8

Covalent bond

Answer 8

A chemical bond produced by the sharing of electrons.

Question 9

Crystal form (habit)

Answer 9

Refers to the common or characteristic shape of a crystal, or aggregate of crystals.

Question 10

Electron

Answer 10

A negatively charged subatomic particle that has a negligible mass and is found outside an atom’s 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

Any break or rupture in rock along which no appreciable movement has taken place.

Question 13

Hardness

Answer 13

A mineral’s resistance to scratching and abrasion.

Question 14

Ion

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 the other.

Question 16

Isotope

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

Luster

Answer 17

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

Question 18

Metallic bond

Answer 18

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.

Question 19

Mineral

Answer 19

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

Question 20

Mohs scale

Answer 20

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

Question 21

Neutron

Answer 21

A subatomic particle found in the nucleus of an atom. It is electrically neutral, with a mass approximately equal to that of a proton.

Question 22

Nucleus

Answer 22

The small, heavy core of an atom that contains all of its positive charge and most of its mass.

Question 23

Polymorph

Answer 23

Two or more minerals having the same chemical composition but different crystalline structures. Exemplified by the diamond and graphite forms of carbon.

Question 24

Proton

Answer 24

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

Question 25

Silicate tetrahedron

Answer 25

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

Question 26

Specific gravity

Answer 26

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

Question 27

Streak

Answer 27

The color of a mineral in powdered form.

Question 28

Tenacity

Answer 28

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