The Physical Universe
The Physical Universe
15th Edition
ISBN: 9780073513928
Author: Konrad Krauskopf, Arthur Beiser
Publisher: MCGRAW-HILL HIGHER EDUCATION
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Chapter 15, Problem 1MC

The most abundant element in the earth’s crust is

  1. a. oxygen
  2. b. nitrogen
  3. c. silicon
  4. d. carbon
Expert Solution & Answer
Check Mark
To determine

The most abundant element in the Earth’s crust.

Answer to Problem 1MC

Option-(a)-“Oxygen”

Explanation of Solution

The outer part of the Earth is called the crust is almost composed of rock. Earth’s crust consists of a very few abundant elements. Most of the elements are present in minor amounts.

Conclusion:

Oxygen is the most abundant element of the Earth’s crust, which is of about 46.6% of the total mass of the Earth’s crust. Silicon stands at the second place, which has about 27.7% of mass; whereas calcium is 3.6%, sodium is 2.8%, potassium is 2.6%, and magnesium is 2.1%. All the other elements occupy the remaining portion. Hence, option (a) is correct.

As silicon, nitrogen, and carbon occupy a less percentage of mass than oxygen, options (b), (c), and (d) are incorrect.

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Chapter 15 Solutions

The Physical Universe

Ch. 15 - Most crustal rocks a. were formed from compacted...Ch. 15 - A general characteristic of rocks of volcanic...Ch. 15 - Foliation occurs in a. sedimentary rocks b....Ch. 15 - An example of a foliated rock is a. marble b....Ch. 15 - An example of a light-colored, coarse-grained...Ch. 15 - Limestone may be metamorphosed into a. marble b....Ch. 15 - Shale may be metamorphosed into a. marble b....Ch. 15 - Mica is present in a. marble b. chert c. basalt d....Ch. 15 - Fossils are most likely to be found in a. granite...Ch. 15 - Most earthquakes are caused by shifts of rocks...Ch. 15 - Regions in which earthquakes are frequent are also...Ch. 15 - Relative to an earthquake of magnitude 5 on the...Ch. 15 - Which one or more of the following statements...Ch. 15 - The earths crust a. has very nearly the same...Ch. 15 - The part of the earth with the greatest volume is...Ch. 15 - The radius of the earths core is roughly a. 110...Ch. 15 - The rocks of the mantle are believed to consist...Ch. 15 - Among the reasons why the earths core is believed...Ch. 15 - The chief source of the energy that powers...Ch. 15 - The earths magnetic field a. never changes b. has...Ch. 15 - If we travel around the earth, we would find that...Ch. 15 - A rock readily attacked by chemical weathering is...Ch. 15 - The principal agent of erosion is a. groundwater...Ch. 15 - Which of the following is not produced by rivers?...Ch. 15 - Glaciers produce which one or more of the...Ch. 15 - The last stage in the erosion of a river is the...Ch. 15 - Prob. 37MCCh. 15 - A fairly fast valley glacier might have a speed of...Ch. 15 - Most of the groundwater present in soil and...Ch. 15 - An aquifer is a. a river or stream on the surface...Ch. 15 - The largest amounts of sediment are deposited a....Ch. 15 - Minerals deposited by groundwater in rock fissures...Ch. 15 - Most caves are produced by the solvent action of...Ch. 15 - The chief constituent of volcanic gases is a....Ch. 15 - Prob. 45MCCh. 15 - The most common volcanic rock is a. granite b....Ch. 15 - Prob. 47MCCh. 15 - Active volcanoes are not found a. in the West...Ch. 15 - A batholith is a a. fissure from which groundwater...Ch. 15 - Arrange these elements in decreasing order of...Ch. 15 - Do silicon compounds make up less than a quarter,...Ch. 15 - What is the relationship between rocks and...Ch. 15 - What mineral is most abundant in the earths crust?...Ch. 15 - Both cleavage and crystal form are characteristic...Ch. 15 - Graphite consists of layers of carbon atoms in...Ch. 15 - In the silicate minerals each Si4+ ion is always...Ch. 15 - How could you distinguish calcite crystals from...Ch. 15 - Are the mineral grains in an igneous rock usually...Ch. 15 - Granite and rhyolite have similar compositions,...Ch. 15 - Diorite is an igneous rock that has hardened...Ch. 15 - Obsidian is a rock that resembles glass, in...Ch. 15 - In what way does calcite differ from almost all...Ch. 15 - Of what rock do coral reefs consist?Ch. 15 - What is the nature of chert and why is it so...Ch. 15 - What kind of rocks are most abundant in the earths...Ch. 15 - What happens to the density of a rock that...Ch. 15 - Why is gneiss the most abundant metamorphic rock?Ch. 15 - The mineral grains of many metamorphic rocks are...Ch. 15 - Shale is a sedimentary rock that consolidated from...Ch. 15 - (a) What is the origin of limestone? (b) What rock...Ch. 15 - Distinguish between the foliation of a metamorphic...Ch. 15 - Distinguish between quartz and quartzite.Ch. 15 - How could you distinguish (a) chert from obsidian;...Ch. 15 - How could you distinguish (a) granite from gabbro;...Ch. 15 - Name the following rocks: (a) a rock consisting of...Ch. 15 - Name the following rocks: (a) a fine-grained,...Ch. 15 - Prob. 28ECh. 15 - Each step on the Richter scale of earthquake...Ch. 15 - What can be said about an earthquake whose...Ch. 15 - Why is the mantle thought to be solid?Ch. 15 - (a) Distinguish between earthquake P and S waves....Ch. 15 - In what part of the earth does the rock motion...Ch. 15 - An earthquake occurs far from an observing station...Ch. 15 - How does the radius of the earths core compare...Ch. 15 - Where is the earths crust thinnest? Where is it...Ch. 15 - What evidence is there in favor of the idea that...Ch. 15 - What is the source of the energy that powers most...Ch. 15 - (a) Why is it believed that the earths outer core...Ch. 15 - Why does a compass needle in most places not point...Ch. 15 - Why is it unlikely that the earths magnetic field...Ch. 15 - Prob. 42ECh. 15 - Why are igneous and metamorphic rocks in general...Ch. 15 - Both marble and slate are metamorphic rocks. Would...Ch. 15 - In what way is the weathering of rock important to...Ch. 15 - Prob. 46ECh. 15 - Is there a limit to the depth to which streams can...Ch. 15 - Why are streams and rivers so effective as agents...Ch. 15 - Under what circumstances does a glacier form?Ch. 15 - Which is the more important agent of erosion...Ch. 15 - Prob. 51ECh. 15 - How is it possible for glaciers to wear down rocks...Ch. 15 - What is a water table? An aquifer?Ch. 15 - What is the immediate destination of most of the...Ch. 15 - What is the eventual site of deposition of most...Ch. 15 - Distinguish between an alluvial fan and a moraine.Ch. 15 - Why are clay minerals and quartz particles...Ch. 15 - In sand derived from the attack of waves on...Ch. 15 - What is the probable origin of the following...Ch. 15 - What characteristic landscape features do active...Ch. 15 - Prob. 61ECh. 15 - What factors determine the viscosity of a magma?...Ch. 15 - What is the cause of the holes found in many...Ch. 15 - Prob. 64ECh. 15 - (a) Why are metamorphic rocks often found near...Ch. 15 - Distinguish between a dike and a vein.
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