minerals, atoms, chemical bonding

What is an atom?

The smallest unit of an element

What are protons?

Positively charged particles in the nucleus

What particle in the nucleus has a positive charge?

Proton

What do atoms of the same chemical element always have in common?

The same number of protons

What is atomic mass?

The sum of protons and neutrons

How are isotopes of the same element different from one another?

They have a different number of neutrons

What is an ion?

An atom with a positive or negative charge

How does a neutral atom become a positively charged ion?

It loses one or more electrons

What are ionic bonds?

Bonds formed by the transfer of electrons

What are covalent bonds?

Bonds formed by the sharing of electrons

Why are noble gases chemically inert?

They have a full outer electron shell

What characteristics must a substance have to be classified as a mineral?

Naturally occurring, inorganic, solid, definite chemical composition, and crystalline structure

Which characteristic is not part of the definition of a mineral?

Organic origin (minerals must be inorganic)

Why is color usually not the best property for identifying minerals?

Impurities can change a mineral's color

What mineral property describes resistance to scratching?

Hardness

What mineral property describes the ability to reflect light?

Luster

What is cleavage?

The tendency to break along smooth, flat planes

What type of breakage defines mineral cleavage?

Breakage along planes of weak atomic bonding

What is the basic building block of silicate minerals?

The silica tetrahedron

Why do mica and clay minerals commonly have a platy crystal form?

They have a sheet silicate structure

What silicate structure is found in olivine?

Isolated (single) tetrahedra

What are native elements?

Minerals composed of a single element

What are ores?

Minerals mined for their economic/metal value

What is the difference between a resource and a reserve?

A resource is all known and undiscovered material; a reserve is known and economically extractable

What are nonmetallic resources?

Resources not mined for their metal content

What are examples of nonmetallic resources?

Sand, gravel, salt, and gypsum