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Questions and Answers
What is a mineral?
What is a mineral?
A naturally occurring solid with a highly ordered atomic arrangement and a definite, homogeneous chemical composition.
Explain what a highly ordered atomic arrangement means.
Explain what a highly ordered atomic arrangement means.
Crystalline, having an orderly and repetitive atomic structure.
Explain what a definite, homogeneous chemical composition means.
Explain what a definite, homogeneous chemical composition means.
It can be described with a chemical formula, and it is well defined and homogenous throughout a single crystal.
Can organisms make minerals?
Can organisms make minerals?
Is any given crystal of a single mineral aligned in the same way/position?
Is any given crystal of a single mineral aligned in the same way/position?
Can a mineral be liquid or gas?
Can a mineral be liquid or gas?
Explain what naturally occurring means when referring to minerals.
Explain what naturally occurring means when referring to minerals.
Atoms are the building blocks of minerals/crystals.
Atoms are the building blocks of minerals/crystals.
What is the symbol and charge of a proton?
What is the symbol and charge of a proton?
What is the symbol and charge of a neutron?
What is the symbol and charge of a neutron?
What is the symbol and charge of an electron?
What is the symbol and charge of an electron?
The number of protons is also the _____ number.
The number of protons is also the _____ number.
______ are nuclei with the same number of protons, but different numbers of neutrons.
______ are nuclei with the same number of protons, but different numbers of neutrons.
The ______ number is related to (but not equivalent to) the atomic mass.
The ______ number is related to (but not equivalent to) the atomic mass.
What do the symbols Z, N, A mean respectively?
What do the symbols Z, N, A mean respectively?
_____ + _____ = mass number (A).
_____ + _____ = mass number (A).
What does the 12 represent in ¹²C?
What does the 12 represent in ¹²C?
_____ describes the way that electrons are oriented about the nucleus of an atom.
_____ describes the way that electrons are oriented about the nucleus of an atom.
As atomic number increases, electrons are added to orbitals for ____ to ____ energy.
As atomic number increases, electrons are added to orbitals for ____ to ____ energy.
The ________ _____ exert the strongest controls on the properties of an atom.
The ________ _____ exert the strongest controls on the properties of an atom.
What determines the ionization behavior of atoms?
What determines the ionization behavior of atoms?
Which ion is positive and is defined as a deficit in electrons (electron loss)?
Which ion is positive and is defined as a deficit in electrons (electron loss)?
Which ion is negative and is defined as an excess in electrons (electron gain)?
Which ion is negative and is defined as an excess in electrons (electron gain)?
What happens when something is oxidized?
What happens when something is oxidized?
_____ _____ results from attraction between positively and negatively charged atoms (cations and anions).
_____ _____ results from attraction between positively and negatively charged atoms (cations and anions).
Combining cations and anions creates an electrically ____ bonded compound.
Combining cations and anions creates an electrically ____ bonded compound.
_____ is a chemical property that describes the tendency of an atom or a functional group to attract electrons (or electron density) towards itself.
_____ is a chemical property that describes the tendency of an atom or a functional group to attract electrons (or electron density) towards itself.
Ionic bonding can be predicted based on ____ of the elements.
Ionic bonding can be predicted based on ____ of the elements.
A big difference in electronegativity leads to?
A big difference in electronegativity leads to?
_____ is a balance between electrostatic attraction and repulsion.
_____ is a balance between electrostatic attraction and repulsion.
_______ results from electron sharing to create a more stable orbital configuration.
_______ results from electron sharing to create a more stable orbital configuration.
Sharing of electrons allows elements with _____ electronegativities to bond.
Sharing of electrons allows elements with _____ electronegativities to bond.
Covalently bonded structures are less _____ than ionically bonded structures.
Covalently bonded structures are less _____ than ionically bonded structures.
Are silicates more ionic or covalent?
Are silicates more ionic or covalent?
______ ______ involves immobile cations surrounded by mobile electrons.
______ ______ involves immobile cations surrounded by mobile electrons.
Are metallic bonds more or less common in minerals than ionic and covalent bonds?
Are metallic bonds more or less common in minerals than ionic and covalent bonds?
_____ ___ ____ bonding is an electrostatic but relatively weak bond in certain layered minerals.
_____ ___ ____ bonding is an electrostatic but relatively weak bond in certain layered minerals.
Bonding ____ plays a key role in mineral properties.
Bonding ____ plays a key role in mineral properties.
_____ ______ result from the polar properties of the water molecule.
_____ ______ result from the polar properties of the water molecule.
What are the big 8 main elements used when making minerals?
What are the big 8 main elements used when making minerals?
What is the mineralogy definition of a coordination number?
What is the mineralogy definition of a coordination number?
Lower coordination number means there is a _____ radius.
Lower coordination number means there is a _____ radius.
The simplest mineral structures are those in which the bonding is primarily _____
The simplest mineral structures are those in which the bonding is primarily _____
Closest packing structures can be approximated by layers of spherical atoms of _______ size.
Closest packing structures can be approximated by layers of spherical atoms of _______ size.
_____ coordination is four surrounding atoms.
_____ coordination is four surrounding atoms.
_____ coordination is six surrounding atoms.
_____ coordination is six surrounding atoms.
______ coordination has more space.
______ coordination has more space.
_______ coordination has less space.
_______ coordination has less space.
The ____ ____ _____ is the most compact way to pack spheres of equal size together.
The ____ ____ _____ is the most compact way to pack spheres of equal size together.
In ___ ___ ___ the third layer is offset exactly like the second.
In ___ ___ ___ the third layer is offset exactly like the second.
In ____ ____ ____ the third layer directly overlies the first.
In ____ ____ ____ the third layer directly overlies the first.
Due to similar properties, silver and gold will create alloys which are...
Due to similar properties, silver and gold will create alloys which are...
Only a few native elements use the closest packing structure, like...
Only a few native elements use the closest packing structure, like...
For ionic bonding, the coordination number is...
For ionic bonding, the coordination number is...
For ionic bonding, the coordination polyhedron is...
For ionic bonding, the coordination polyhedron is...
The ____ ____ is the radius of the cation divided by the radius of the anion.
The ____ ____ is the radius of the cation divided by the radius of the anion.
The radius ratio is almost always ____ than one.
The radius ratio is almost always ____ than one.
Cations tend to be _____ than anions.
Cations tend to be _____ than anions.
Anions tend to be ______ than cations.
Anions tend to be ______ than cations.
The radius ratio allows us to predict the coordination ____ for a given ionic mineral/molecule.
The radius ratio allows us to predict the coordination ____ for a given ionic mineral/molecule.
All minerals must be electrically ____.
All minerals must be electrically ____.
6-fold coordination makes an ___ sided figure.
6-fold coordination makes an ___ sided figure.
An example of 3 fold coordination.
An example of 3 fold coordination.
An example of 6 fold coordination.
An example of 6 fold coordination.
An example of 8 fold coordination.
An example of 8 fold coordination.
Native iron is not an ionically bonded mineral.
Native iron is not an ionically bonded mineral.
Oxygen is the most common anion in silicate minerals.
Oxygen is the most common anion in silicate minerals.
___ ____ were developed in the 1920s to predict molecular/mineral structures for ionically bonded atoms.
___ ____ were developed in the 1920s to predict molecular/mineral structures for ionically bonded atoms.
A coordination polyhedron of anions forms around each cation. The cation-anion distance is determined by the sum of the cation and anion radii, and the number of anions coordinating with the cation is determined by the relative size of the cation and anion.
A coordination polyhedron of anions forms around each cation. The cation-anion distance is determined by the sum of the cation and anion radii, and the number of anions coordinating with the cation is determined by the relative size of the cation and anion.
In a stable ionic structure, the total strength of the valency bonds that reach an anion from all neighboring cations is equal to the charge of the anion.
In a stable ionic structure, the total strength of the valency bonds that reach an anion from all neighboring cations is equal to the charge of the anion.
What's the word for all bonds having the same strength?
What's the word for all bonds having the same strength?
Name three examples of isodesmics.
Name three examples of isodesmics.
____ is when some anion-cation bonds take >1/2 of the anion charge.
____ is when some anion-cation bonds take >1/2 of the anion charge.
An example of anisodesmic.
An example of anisodesmic.
When some anion-cation bonds take exactly 1/2 of the anion charge.
When some anion-cation bonds take exactly 1/2 of the anion charge.
An example of a mesodesmic.
An example of a mesodesmic.
Corner sharing compounds.
Corner sharing compounds.
Name two examples of tetrahedra sheets.
Name two examples of tetrahedra sheets.
The existence of edges, and particularly of faces, common to coordination polyhedra decreases the stability of ionic structures.
The existence of edges, and particularly of faces, common to coordination polyhedra decreases the stability of ionic structures.
In a crystal containing different cations, those with large valence and small coordination number tend not to share polyhedral elements.
In a crystal containing different cations, those with large valence and small coordination number tend not to share polyhedral elements.
_____ cations are more likely to share edges or faces than _____ cations.
_____ cations are more likely to share edges or faces than _____ cations.
The number of essentially different kinds of constituents in a crystal tends to be small....usually less than 4.
The number of essentially different kinds of constituents in a crystal tends to be small....usually less than 4.
The ability of a chemical compound to crystallize with more than one structure.
The ability of a chemical compound to crystallize with more than one structure.
A set of different minerals with the same chemical composition.
A set of different minerals with the same chemical composition.
A group of minerals with different compositions but arranged in the same type of crystal structure.
A group of minerals with different compositions but arranged in the same type of crystal structure.
In polymorphs, transformation requiring complete structural reorganization. Ex- bond breaking/reforming, significant energy for transformation.
In polymorphs, transformation requiring complete structural reorganization. Ex- bond breaking/reforming, significant energy for transformation.
In polymorphs, transformation requires only distortion or bending of the crystal structure, less energy required for this transformation.
In polymorphs, transformation requires only distortion or bending of the crystal structure, less energy required for this transformation.
Polymorphs differing by how cations are distributed within structural site, strong temperature dependence.
Polymorphs differing by how cations are distributed within structural site, strong temperature dependence.
Polymorphs differing by the stacking sequence of identical sheets.
Polymorphs differing by the stacking sequence of identical sheets.
Elements (usually cations) can substitute for each other in mineral structures, compositional variations in a single mineral.
Elements (usually cations) can substitute for each other in mineral structures, compositional variations in a single mineral.
Solid solution can take place when substituting ions have a similar _____ and _____
Solid solution can take place when substituting ions have a similar _____ and _____
Identical charge, similar ionic radius, extensive substitution. These are all criteria for what?
Identical charge, similar ionic radius, extensive substitution. These are all criteria for what?
Combining one substitution that increases charge with one that decreases charge.
Combining one substitution that increases charge with one that decreases charge.
Charge balance maintained by keeping structural sites unfilled.
Charge balance maintained by keeping structural sites unfilled.
Charge balance maintained by placing ions in sites that are normally vacant.
Charge balance maintained by placing ions in sites that are normally vacant.
Mineral classification is based primarily on _____ group.
Mineral classification is based primarily on _____ group.
______ minerals are the most abundant mineral group in the earth's crust.
______ minerals are the most abundant mineral group in the earth's crust.
The external form and symmetry of a crystal reflects its ____ _____ arrangement.
The external form and symmetry of a crystal reflects its ____ _____ arrangement.
3 types of symmetry are?
3 types of symmetry are?
Crystal forms and mineral lattices are defined in part by their _____.
Crystal forms and mineral lattices are defined in part by their _____.
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Study Notes
Minerals
- Defined as naturally occurring solids with a highly ordered atomic arrangement and a homogeneous chemical composition.
- Typically formed through inorganic processes.
Atomic Structure
- Highly ordered atomic arrangement indicates crystalline structure, with a repetitive atomic configuration.
- Definite, homogeneous chemical composition means it can be represented by a specific chemical formula and is uniform throughout a single crystal.
Mineral Origin and Characteristics
- Minerals can be formed by organisms, such as clams producing calcite shells; garden snail shells do not qualify as minerals.
- Crystals of a single mineral have their atoms aligned in the same orientation.
Properties of Atoms
- Atoms are the fundamental building blocks of minerals and crystals.
- Protons (p, +1), neutrons (n, 0), and electrons (e, -1) are subatomic particles that make up atoms.
Atomic Number and Isotopes
- The number of protons in an atom is known as the atomic number.
- Isotopes are nuclei with the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons.
- Mass number (A) is the sum of the atomic number (Z) and neutron number (N).
Electron Configuration
- Orbital theory describes the orientation of electrons around an atomic nucleus.
- Electrons are added to orbitals in order of increasing energy, from lowest to highest.
- Outermost electrons exert the strongest influence on an atom’s properties and ionization behavior.
Ions and Bonding
- Cations are positively charged ions formed by electron loss, while anions are negatively charged ions formed by electron gain.
- Oxidation refers to the loss of electrons, resulting in cations.
Types of Bonding
- Ionic bonding occurs due to the electrostatic attraction between cations and anions, resulting in electrically neutral compounds.
- Electronegativity is a measure of an atom’s ability to attract electrons; significant differences can indicate ionic bonding.
- Covalent bonding involves the sharing of electrons, leading to less symmetrical structures compared to ionic bonds.
Coordination in Minerals
- Coordination number refers to the number of anions around a central cation.
- Lower coordination numbers imply smaller radii, while higher coordination numbers yield more space.
- The most common operational coordination numbers are tetrahedral (four surrounding atoms) and octahedral (six surrounding atoms).
Packing and Polymorphism
- Closest packing structures can be achieved through offset stacking sequences, significantly influencing mineral stability.
- Polymorphism describes the ability of a mineral to crystallize in multiple forms, with types such as reconstructive, displacive, order-disorder, and polytypism based on the nature of structural changes.
Solid Solutions and Substitution
- Solid solution allows for compositional variations in minerals through ionic substitution, governed by size and charge similarities.
- Simple, coupled, omission, and interstitial substitution represent different methods of maintaining charge balance and structural integrity within minerals.
Mineral Classification
- Minerals are classified primarily by their anion groups, with silicate minerals being the most abundant in the Earth's crust.
- The internal atomic arrangement of minerals influences external form and symmetry, demonstrated through reflection, rotation, and inversion types.
Crystal Symmetry
- Crystal forms are inherently connected to their internal symmetry and atomic arrangement, resulting in distinct lattice structures.
- Symmetry plays a critical role in defining crystal shapes and mineral classification.
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