Earth Science SOL Unit 4.3 - Classification of Minerals

Which of the following is the most abundant and important group of minerals?

• Sulfides

• Carbonates

• Silicates

• Sulfates

Answer explanation

Silicates are the most abundant group of minerals, making up about 90% of the Earth's crust. They are essential for various geological processes and are found in many rocks, unlike sulfides, carbonates, and sulfates.

What TWO elements must silicate minerals always contain?

• Oxygen

• Sulfur

• Silicon

• Carbon

Answer explanation

Silicate minerals are defined by their composition, which always includes silicon and oxygen. These two elements form the basic building blocks of silicate structures, making them essential for all silicate minerals.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-1

Match each mineral group to the ion or element it must contain.

• Contains the sulfate ion (SO₄²⁻)

• Silicates

• Contains the carbonate ion (CO₃²⁻)

• Sulfides

• Contains sulfur and a metal

• Sulfates

• Contains silicon and oxygen

• Carbonates

Answer explanation

Refer to your notes on Minerals.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-1

Which of the following is an example of a halide mineral?

• Table Salt

• Corundum

• Wavellite

• Copper

Answer explanation

Table Salt, or sodium chloride, is a halide mineral because it consists of halogen elements (chlorine) combined with sodium. The other options do not belong to the halide mineral category.

What TWO elements must phosphates contain in addition to a metal?

• Oxygen

• Phosphate

• Chlorine

• Hydrogen

Answer explanation

Phosphates must contain oxygen and the phosphate ion (PO4) in addition to a metal. Chlorine and hydrogen are not essential components of phosphates.

Based on the image and description, which of the following best represent two elements that can make up an example of a halide?

• Sodium and Chlorine

• Iron and Oxygen

• Phosphorus and Aluminum

• Copper and Gold

Answer explanation

Sodium and Chlorine combine to form sodium chloride (table salt), which is a classic example of a halide. The other pairs do not form halides, as they involve different types of compounds.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-1

Explain how oxides differ from halides in terms of their chemical composition.

• Oxides contain oxygen combined with other elements, while halides contain halide ions combined with metals.

• Oxides contain only metals, while halides contain only nonmetals.

• Oxides contain phosphate ions, while halides contain oxygen ions.

• Oxides and halides have the same composition.

Answer explanation

Oxides are compounds that include oxygen bonded with other elements, while halides consist of halogen elements (like fluorine or chlorine) combined with metals. This distinction in chemical composition is key to understanding their differences.

A student finds a mineral sample that consists of only one element in its pure form. Which mineral group does this sample most likely belong to, and what is an example?

• Native Elements; example: gold

• Halides; example: halite

• Phosphates; example: vivianite

• Oxides; example: hematite

Answer explanation

The mineral sample consists of only one element in its pure form, which classifies it as a Native Element. An example of this is gold, which is a well-known native element mineral.

Which THREE of the following are silicate minerals?

• Quartz

• Feldspar

• Calcite

• Mica

Answer explanation

Quartz, Feldspar, and Mica are all silicate minerals, characterized by their silicon-oxygen tetrahedra structure. Calcite, however, is a carbonate mineral and does not belong to the silicate group.

Rocks are mostly made of __.

• minerals

• lava

• fossils

• dirt

Answer explanation

Rocks are primarily composed of minerals, which are naturally occurring solid substances with a defined chemical composition. While lava, fossils, and dirt can be associated with rocks, they do not make up the majority of their composition.

Tags

NGSS.5-PS1-3