Geology Ch 2.

Front 1

Atom

Back 1

The smallest particle that exists as an element

Front 2

Atomic number

Back 2

The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom

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Chemical compound

Back 3

A substance formed by the chemical combination of two or more elemnts in definite proportions and usually having properties different from those of its constituent elements.

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Cleavage

Back 4

The tendency of a mineral to break along planes of weak bonding

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Covalent bond

Back 5

A chemical bond produced by the sharing of electrons.

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Dark silicates

Back 6

Silicate minerals containing ions of iron and/or magnesium in their structure. They are dark in color and have a higher specific gravity than nonferromagnesian silicates.

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Density

Back 7

The weight per unit volume of a particular material.

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Electron

Back 8

A negatively charged subatomic particle that has a negligible mass and is found outside the atoms nucleus.

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Element

Back 9

A substance that cannot be decomposed into simpler substances by ordinary chemical or physical means.

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Energy levels

Back 10

Spherically shaped negatively charged zones that surround the nucleus of an atom.

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Fracture

Back 11

One of the basic physical properties of minerals. It relates to the breakage of minerals when there are no planes of weakness in the crystalline structure.

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Habit

Back 12

Refers to the common or characteristic shape of a crystal or aggregate of crystals.

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Ion

Back 13

An atom or molecule that possesses an electrical charge.

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Ionic bond

Back 14

A chemical bond between two oppositely charged ions formed by the transfer of valence electrons from one atom to another.

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Isotope

Back 15

Varieties of the same element that have different mass numbers; their nuclei contain the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons.

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Light silicate

Back 16

Silicate minerals that lack iron and/or magnesium. they are generally lighter in color and have lower specific gravities than dark silicates.

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Mass number

Back 17

the sum of the number of neutrons and protons in the nucleus of an atom.

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Metallic bond

Back 18

A chemical bond present in all metals that may be characterized as an extreme type of electron sharing in which the electrons move freely from atom to atom.

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Mineral

Back 19

A naturally occuring, inorganic crystalline material with a unique chemical structure.

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Mineral resource

Back 20

All discovered and undiscovered deposits of a useful mineral that can be extracted now or at some time in the future.

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Neutron

Back 21

A subatomic particle found in the nucleus of an atom. Electrically neutral, with a mass approximately equal to that of a proton.

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Nucleus

Back 22

The small, heavy core of an atom that contains all of its positive charge and most of its mass.

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Ore

Back 23

Usually a useful metallic mineral that can be mined at a profit.

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Periodic table

Back 24

The tabular arrangement of the elements according to the atomic number.

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Proton

Back 25

A positively charged subatomic particle found in the nucleus of an atom.

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Reserve

Back 26

Already identified deposits from which minerals can be extracted profitably.

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Rock

Back 27

A consolidated mixture of minerals

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Silicate

Back 28

Any one of numerous minerals that have the silicon-oxygen tetrahedron as their basic structure

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Silicon oxygen tetrahedron

Back 29

A structure composed of four oxygen atoms surrounding a silicon atom that constitutes the basic building block of silicate minerals.

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Tenacity

Back 30

Describes a minerals toughness or its resistance to breaking or deforming.

Front 31

valence electron

Back 31

The electrons involved in the bonding process; the electrons occupying the highest principal energy level of an atom.