Starr-Aisa Hayes
Introduction to Physical Geology
1)
Which of the following substances is not a mineral and why: gold, water, ice, wood?
(There may be more than one answer.)
A mineral is a naturally occurring, inorganic, crystalline solid with a relatively consistent
composition. Water and wood would not be considered a mineral because water is not solid and
wood is an organic material.
2)
When an aqueous solution containing dissolved mineral matter evaporates, why
does the mineral matter precipitate instead of evaporating with the water?
At those temperatures, the mineral molecules are too heavy to evaporate, so they will remain in
the solution until it becomes saturated.
3)
What is meant when minerals are referred to as "crystalline solid"?
When minerals are referred to as “Crystalline solid” it is a mineral that has an ordered internal
structure, which means that atoms are arranged in a regular, repeating way.
4)
Why would a synthetic gemstone not be considered a true mineral?
A synthetic gemstone would not be considered as a true mineral because it was grown in a
laboratory.
5)
explain the significance of valence electrons in connection to mineral formation.
The significance of valence electrons in connections to mineral formation is that they provide
insight into an element's chemical properties and are the ones gained, lost, or shared during a
chemical reaction
.
