Download Mineral Study Guide

Mineral Study Guide
1. What is the difference between an element, compound & mixture?
2. What is an atom and what are the three subatomic particles including their
charges?
3. What is the importance of valence electrons?
4. Why does an atom want to bond with another?
5. To become stable, how many valence electrons does an atom want to have?
6. Please use the back of your atomic structure worksheet to answer the
following.
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How many neutrons does an atom of Fluorine (#9) have?
An atom of Titanium (#22) has 22 protons. How many electrons does it have?
An atom of Magnesium (#12) has 12 protons and 12 neutrons. What is it’s atomic
mass?
7. What is the difference between ionic & covalent bonds? Use your book to find
a couple examples of compounds that are made from each bond.
8. What are the five characteristics that define minerals?
9. What are the two most abundant elements in the Earth’s crust?
10. Which group of minerals is the most common and why are they so diverse?
(Hint: Think about the above question.)
11. Why is color not a reliable test for identifying minerals?
12. Why are some minerals classified as gems?
13. What conditions would form a large well-shaped mineral crystal?
14. What can you conclude about the atomic bonds along a plane of
cleavage? (Hint: think about the strength of the bonds)
15. What is an ore?
16. Before mining a new mineral, what factors should be considered? (Hint: Think
about the above question)
17. Define the word crystal.
18. Explain how a mineral is formed from a solution/evaporation.
(Example: Like
when you make Kool-aide with too much sugar. What forms on the bottom.)
19. Explain the arrangement of atoms (shape) in a silica tetrahedron.
20. List the mineral groups. There are seven.
21. Which group of minerals will have a positive test (fizz) with HCL
(hydrochloric acid)?
22. How do minerals form from magma?
23. What are the two ways to mine minerals?
24. List 5 examples of gemstones.
25. Compare and contrast cleavage and fracture.
26. What is the hardness of a mineral if it scratches a penny but will not scratch
glass?
27. What mineral property is being tested when a mineral is rubbed across an
unglazed porcelain plate?
28. List terms to describe the luster of a mineral.
29. How is the Moh’s scale of hardness used?
30. Can minerals be made of only one element? If so, what group do they fit
into?
31. If minerals are formed in an area where they cool slowly with a lot of room,
how will there crystal shapes turn out?
32. Of the 3000 minerals on the face of the earth, how many are common?
33. Compare density to specific gravity.