Minerals and Elements

Front

What is a compound?

Back

A compound is a substance formed when two or more elements chemically bond together, resulting in a substance with properties different from those of its individual elements.

Front

What is the charge of a compound?

Back

A compound is neutrally charged overall, as it consists of positively charged ions (cations) and negatively charged ions (anions) that balance each other out.

Front

Why is color not a reliable property for identifying minerals?

Back

Color is not reliable because the same mineral can occur in different colors due to impurities or variations in its structure.

Front

What type of bond do compounds with low boiling points typically have?

Back

Compounds with low boiling points typically have covalent bonds, which involve the sharing of electrons between atoms.

Front

What is the Mohs scale?

Back

The Mohs scale is a scale used to measure the hardness of minerals, ranging from 1 (talc) to 10 (diamond).

Front

How does fluorite compare to topaz in terms of hardness?

Back

Fluorite is softer than topaz on the Mohs scale.

Front

What is an ion?

Back

An ion is an atom or molecule that has a net electrical charge due to the loss or gain of one or more electrons.

Front

What is the difference between an element and a compound?

Back

An element is a pure substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances, while a compound is made up of two or more elements chemically combined.

Front

What is a mineral?

Back

A mineral is a naturally occurring inorganic solid with a definite chemical composition and a crystalline structure.

Front

What is the significance of the hardness of a mineral?

Back

The hardness of a mineral indicates its resistance to scratching and is an important property for identification.