Matter And Minerals

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atom

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the smallest particle that exists in an element

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atomic weight

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the average of atomic masses of isotopes for a given element

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atomic number

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the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom

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cleavage

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

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color

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a phenomenon of light by which otherwise identical objects may be differentiated

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compound

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a substance formed by the chemical combination of two or more elements in definite proportions and usually having properties different from those of its consituent elements

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covalent bond

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a chemical bond produced by the sharing of electrons

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crystal form

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the external appearance of a mineral as determined by its internal arrangement of atoms

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dark/ferromagnesian silicates

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silicate minerals containing ions of iron and/or magnesium in their structure.

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What are the differences between dark silicates and nonferromagnesian silicates?

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Dark silicates are darker in color and have a higher specific gravity than nonferromagnesian silicates.

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electron

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a negatively charged subatomic particle that has a negligible mass and is found outside an atom's nucleus

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element

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

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energy-levels, or shells

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spherically shaped, negatively charged zones that surround the nucleus of an atom

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fracture

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any break or rupture in rock along which no appreciable movement has taken place

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hardness

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a minerals resistance to scratching and abrasion

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ion

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an atom or molecule that possesses an electrical charge

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ionic bond

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a chemical bond between two oppositely charged ions formed by the transfer of valence electrons from one atom to the other

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isotope

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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/nonferromagnesian silicates

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Silicate minerals that lack iron and/or magnesium.

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luster

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the appearance or quality of light reflected from the surface of a mineral

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mass number

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

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metallic bond

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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

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

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mineralogy

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the study of minerals

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Mohs Scale

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a series of ten minerals used as a standard in determining hardness

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neutron

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

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nucleus

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

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What is the octet rule?

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Atoms combine in order that each may have the electron arrangement of a noble gas; that is, the outer energy level contains eight neutrons

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polymorph

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two or more minerals having the same chemical composition but different crystalline structures. Examples of this are the diamond and graphite forms of carbon.

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proton

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a positively charged subatomic particle found in the nucleus of an atom

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radioactive decay

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the spontaneous decay of certain unstable atomic nuclei

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rock

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a consolidated mixture of minerals

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silicate mineral

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any one of numerous minerals that have the silicon-oxygen tetrahedron as their basic stucture

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silicon-oxygen tetrahedron

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

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specific gravity

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gravity The ratio of a substance's weight to the weight of an equal volume of water

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streak

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the color of a mineral in powdered form

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valence electron

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