Minerals Flashcards
Earth's Materials and Systems
A substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical means is called what?
An element
There are more than how many known elements?
100
How many elements occur naturally?
90
The elements are organized by their properties in a table called what?
Periodic Table
What type of elements are good conductors of heat and electricity?
Metals
All elements are made up of what?
Atoms
What are the 3 subatomic particles that make up an atom?
Protons, Neutrons, Electrons
The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom is called what?
Atomic number
Electrons occupy regions in the atom called what?
Energy levels
Atoms with the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons are called what?
Isotopes
A substance that consists of 2 or more elements that are chemically bonded together is known as what?
Compound
The elements in a compound are held together by forces called what?
Chemical bonds
The most reactive elements are found in what two groups on the periodic table?
Groups 1 & 17
What are the 3 types of chemical bonds?
Ionic, Covalent, Metallic
What is a naturally occurring, inorganic solid with a crystalline structure called?
A mineral
All minerals share these 5 characteristics:
- Naturally Occurring
- Solid Substance
- Orderly Crystalline Structure
- Definite Chemical Composition
- Generally Considered Inorganic
What are the 4 ways minerals form?
- Crystallization from magma
- Precipitation
- Changes in pressure & temperature
- Formation from hydrothermal solutions
How many mineral groups are there?
4
What are the 2 most abundant elements on the Earth’s surface?
Silicon & Oxygen
If a mineral contains carbon, oxygen, and one more metallic element, then it belongs to which mineral group?
Carbonates
Sulfates and sulfides are minerals that contain which element?
Sulfur
Halides are minerals that contain what type of ion?
Halogen
What is the color of a mineral in its powdered form called?
Streak
What term is used to describe how light is reflected from the surface of a mineral?
Luster
The Mohs scale ranges from what number to what number?
10 (hardest) to 1 (softest)
Which number on the Mohs scale is the softest mineral?
1
Which mineral is the hardest mineral based on the Mohs scale?
Diamond
What is the uneven breakage of a mineral called?
Fracture
What is the formula to solve for density?
Mass (m)
-————- = Density (d)
Volume (v)
What is a mineral’s streak?
Is the color of a mineral in its powdered form
