Question 1

What is the smallest particle of matter that exhibits and defines the distinctive chemical characteristics of the individual elements?

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Question 2

What is the dominant form of chemical bonding exhibited by minerals such as native gold, native copper and copper- rich sulfides?

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Question 3

Moh's scale is a relative measure of which physical property of minerals?

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Question 4

The physical property denoting a mineral's tendency to crack along parallel, planar surfaces is known as what?

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Question 5

Considering the composition and structure of Earth discussed in chapter 1, do you think all of the possible silicate (and even mineral)structures have been identified by scientists? Discuss why or why not. Also, does this same reasoning apply to all possible chemical elements of Earth?

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Question 6

What mineral group forms by the breakdown and weathering of rock- forming silicate minerals and are important constituents of soils?

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Question 7

A compound is a stable chemical substance composed of two or more what?

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Question 8

Based on the brief discussion of chemistry and chemical bonding in chapter 3, why do minerals rarely exhibit pure chemical compositions (100% always the same chemical composition)?

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Question 9

Parallel, straight, linear imperfections visible on the cleavage surfaces of plagioclase feldspar are called what?

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Question 10

In atoms, which electrons are involved in chemical bonding?

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Question 11

Which one of the following is a sodium and calcium feldspar with striations?
A)plagioclase
B)sanidine
C)orthoclase
D)microcline

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Plagioclase is the only feldspar among the given choices that contains both sodium and calcium, as well as striations. Sanidine and orthoclase are both potassium feldspars, while microcline is also a potassium feldspar but lacks striations.

Question 12

What two major characteristics differentiate minerals from the noble gases?

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Question 13

What is the hardest mineral known?

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Question 14

Overall, the physical properties of minerals provide a reliable means to identify common minerals. However, certain properties can exhibit a range of characteristics or values making them less useful for identification purposes. Choose three physical properties that might vary considerably between samples of the same mineral and explain why such variability would exist.

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Question 15

Most glasses and some minerals exhibit a type of fracture characterized by nested and curved, cracked surfaces. What term describes this property?

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Question 16

What is the chemical composition of graphite and diamond?

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Question 17

What physical property denotes the color of a powdered mineral?

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Quiz 3: Matter and Minerals