Minerals Flashcards
1
Q
What are minerals?
A
Naturally occurring
Inorganic crystalline solid
Ordered internal molecular structure
Definite chemical composition
2
Q
What is chemical bonding?
A
Formation of a compound by combining two or more elements
3
Q
What is ionic bonding?
A
Atoms gain or lose outermost electrons to form ions
4
Q
What is covalent bonding?
A
Atoms share electrons to achieve electrical neutrality
5
Q
What is metallic bonding?
A
Valence electrons are free to migrate among atoms
6
Q
What is Van der Waals bonding?
A
Weak attractive force between electrically neutral atoms and molecules
7
Q
What are the physical properties of minerals?
A
Crystal form
Luster
Color
Streak
Hardness
Cleavage
Fracture
Specific gravity
8
Q
What is a polymorph?
A
Minerals with the same composition but different crystalline structures
