Mineralogy Exam 1 Flashcards

Questions and Answers

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.

Crystalline, having an orderly and repetitive atomic structure.

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?

True Signup and view all the answers

Is any given crystal of a single mineral aligned in the same way/position?

True Signup and view all the answers

Can a mineral be liquid or gas?

False Signup and view all the answers

Explain what naturally occurring means when referring to minerals.

Formed by geologic processes and not synthesized by humans. Signup and view all the answers

Atoms are the building blocks of minerals/crystals.

True Signup and view all the answers

What is the symbol and charge of a proton?

p, +1 Signup and view all the answers

What is the symbol and charge of a neutron?

n, 0 Signup and view all the answers

What is the symbol and charge of an electron?

e, -1 Signup and view all the answers

The number of protons is also the _____ number.

atomic Signup and view all the answers

______ are nuclei with the same number of protons, but different numbers of neutrons.

Isotopes Signup and view all the answers

The ______ number is related to (but not equivalent to) the atomic mass.

mass Signup and view all the answers

What do the symbols Z, N, A mean respectively?

Atomic number (Z), neutron number (N), and mass number (A). Signup and view all the answers

_ + _ = mass number (A).

atomic number (Z) + neutron number (N) Signup and view all the answers

What does the 12 represent in ¹²C?

Mass number (A). Signup and view all the answers

_____ describes the way that electrons are oriented about the nucleus of an atom.

Orbital theory Signup and view all the answers

As atomic number increases, electrons are added to orbitals for to energy.

lowest to highest Signup and view all the answers

The ____ _ exert the strongest controls on the properties of an atom.

Outermost electrons Signup and view all the answers

What determines the ionization behavior of atoms?

Orbital configurations. Signup and view all the answers

Which ion is positive and is defined as a deficit in electrons (electron loss)?

Cation Signup and view all the answers

Which ion is negative and is defined as an excess in electrons (electron gain)?

Anion Signup and view all the answers

What happens when something is oxidized?

Electrons are stripped away, leaving behind cations. Signup and view all the answers

_ _ results from attraction between positively and negatively charged atoms (cations and anions).

Ionic bonding Signup and view all the answers

Combining cations and anions creates an electrically ____ bonded compound.

Neutral Signup and view all the answers

_____ is a chemical property that describes the tendency of an atom or a functional group to attract electrons (or electron density) towards itself.

Electronegativity Signup and view all the answers

Ionic bonding can be predicted based on ____ of the elements.

Electronegativity Signup and view all the answers

A big difference in electronegativity leads to?

Ionic bonding. Signup and view all the answers

_____ is a balance between electrostatic attraction and repulsion.

Bond length Signup and view all the answers

_______ results from electron sharing to create a more stable orbital configuration.

Covalent bonding Signup and view all the answers

Sharing of electrons allows elements with _____ electronegativities to bond.

Identical Signup and view all the answers

Covalently bonded structures are less _____ than ionically bonded structures.

Symmetrical Signup and view all the answers

Are silicates more ionic or covalent?

False Signup and view all the answers

involves immobile cations surrounded by mobile electrons.

Metallic bonding Signup and view all the answers

Are metallic bonds more or less common in minerals than ionic and covalent bonds?

False Signup and view all the answers

___ _ ____ bonding is an electrostatic but relatively weak bond in certain layered minerals.

Van der Waals Signup and view all the answers

Bonding ____ plays a key role in mineral properties.

Strength Signup and view all the answers

_ __ result from the polar properties of the water molecule.

Hydrogen bonds Signup and view all the answers

What are the big 8 main elements used when making minerals?

Oxygen, silicon, aluminum, iron, calcium, sodium, potassium, and magnesium. Signup and view all the answers

What is the mineralogy definition of a coordination number?

The number of anions surrounding a single cation in a mineral structure. Signup and view all the answers

Lower coordination number means there is a _____ radius.

Smaller Signup and view all the answers

The simplest mineral structures are those in which the bonding is primarily _____

Metallic Signup and view all the answers

Closest packing structures can be approximated by layers of spherical atoms of _______ size.

Equal Signup and view all the answers

_____ coordination is four surrounding atoms.

Tetrahedral Signup and view all the answers

_____ coordination is six surrounding atoms.

Octahedral Signup and view all the answers

______ coordination has more space.

Octahedral Signup and view all the answers

_______ coordination has less space.

Tetrahedral Signup and view all the answers

The _ is the most compact way to pack spheres of equal size together.

Offset stacking sequence Signup and view all the answers

In _ _ ___ the third layer is offset exactly like the second.

Cubic closest packing Signup and view all the answers

In the third layer directly overlies the first.

Hexagonal closest packing Signup and view all the answers

Due to similar properties, silver and gold will create alloys which are...

A mix of metals due to their similar properties. Signup and view all the answers

Only a few native elements use the closest packing structure, like...

Gold. Signup and view all the answers

For ionic bonding, the coordination number is...

The number of anions with which a cation is in contact (bonded to). Signup and view all the answers

For ionic bonding, the coordination polyhedron is...

The shape defined by anions. Signup and view all the answers

The is the radius of the cation divided by the radius of the anion.

Radius ratio Signup and view all the answers

The radius ratio is almost always ____ than one.

Less Signup and view all the answers

Cations tend to be _____ than anions.

Smaller Signup and view all the answers

Anions tend to be ______ than cations.

Larger Signup and view all the answers

The radius ratio allows us to predict the coordination ____ for a given ionic mineral/molecule.

Polyhedron Signup and view all the answers

All minerals must be electrically ____.

Neutral Signup and view all the answers

6-fold coordination makes an ___ sided figure.

Eight Signup and view all the answers

An example of 3 fold coordination.

Calcite Signup and view all the answers

An example of 6 fold coordination.

Muscovite Signup and view all the answers

An example of 8 fold coordination.

Native iron Signup and view all the answers

Native iron is not an ionically bonded mineral.

True Signup and view all the answers

Oxygen is the most common anion in silicate minerals.

True. Signup and view all the answers

_ __ were developed in the 1920s to predict molecular/mineral structures for ionically bonded atoms.

Pauling's rules. Signup and view all the answers

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.

Rule 1 of Pauling's rules: Coordination principle. Signup and view all the answers

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.

Rule 2 of Pauling's rules: Electrostatic valency principle. Signup and view all the answers

What's the word for all bonds having the same strength?

Isodesmic Signup and view all the answers

Name three examples of isodesmics.

Oxides, fluorides, and chlorides. Signup and view all the answers

____ is when some anion-cation bonds take >1/2 of the anion charge.

Anisodesmic Signup and view all the answers

An example of anisodesmic.

Anhydrite. Signup and view all the answers

When some anion-cation bonds take exactly 1/2 of the anion charge.

Mesodesmic. Signup and view all the answers

An example of a mesodesmic.

SiO₄ Tetrahedra- sharing oxygens. Signup and view all the answers

Corner sharing compounds.

Tetrahedra sheets. Signup and view all the answers

Name two examples of tetrahedra sheets.

Muscovite and biotite. Signup and view all the answers

The existence of edges, and particularly of faces, common to coordination polyhedra decreases the stability of ionic structures.

3rd of Pauling's rules: Sharing of polyhedral elements I. Signup and view all the answers

In a crystal containing different cations, those with large valence and small coordination number tend not to share polyhedral elements.

4th of Pauling's rules: Sharing of polyhedral elements II. Signup and view all the answers

_ cations are more likely to share edges or faces than _ cations.

Low-charged, high-charged. Signup and view all the answers

The number of essentially different kinds of constituents in a crystal tends to be small....usually less than 4.

Rule 5 of Pauling's rules: Principle of parsimony. Signup and view all the answers

The ability of a chemical compound to crystallize with more than one structure.

Polymorphism. Signup and view all the answers

A set of different minerals with the same chemical composition.

Polymorphic group. Signup and view all the answers

A group of minerals with different compositions but arranged in the same type of crystal structure.

Isostructural group. Signup and view all the answers

In polymorphs, transformation requiring complete structural reorganization. Ex- bond breaking/reforming, significant energy for transformation.

Reconstructive polymorphism. Signup and view all the answers

In polymorphs, transformation requires only distortion or bending of the crystal structure, less energy required for this transformation.

Displacive polymorphism. Signup and view all the answers

Polymorphs differing by how cations are distributed within structural site, strong temperature dependence.

Order-disorder polymorphism. Signup and view all the answers

Polymorphs differing by the stacking sequence of identical sheets.

Polytypism. Signup and view all the answers

Elements (usually cations) can substitute for each other in mineral structures, compositional variations in a single mineral.

Solid solution. Signup and view all the answers

Solid solution can take place when substituting ions have a similar _ and _

Size, charge. Signup and view all the answers

Identical charge, similar ionic radius, extensive substitution. These are all criteria for what?

Simple substitution. Signup and view all the answers

Combining one substitution that increases charge with one that decreases charge.

Coupled substitution. Signup and view all the answers

Charge balance maintained by keeping structural sites unfilled.

Omission substitution. Signup and view all the answers

Charge balance maintained by placing ions in sites that are normally vacant.

Interstitial substitution. Signup and view all the answers

Mineral classification is based primarily on _____ group.

Anion. Signup and view all the answers

______ minerals are the most abundant mineral group in the earth's crust.

Silicate. Signup and view all the answers

The external form and symmetry of a crystal reflects its _ arrangement.

Internal atomic. Signup and view all the answers

3 types of symmetry are?

Reflection, rotation, inversion. Signup and view all the answers

Crystal forms and mineral lattices are defined in part by their _____.

Symmetry. Signup and view all the answers

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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Test your knowledge on fundamental mineralogy concepts with these flashcards. Focus on definitions and characteristics of minerals, including atomic arrangements and chemical composition. Perfect for students preparing for their mineralogy exams.

Mineralogy Exam 1 Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What is a mineral?

Explain what a highly ordered atomic arrangement means.

Explain what a definite, homogeneous chemical composition means.

Can organisms make minerals?

Is any given crystal of a single mineral aligned in the same way/position?

Can a mineral be liquid or gas?

Explain what naturally occurring means when referring to minerals.

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 neutron?

What is the symbol and charge of an electron?

The number of protons is also the _____ number.

______ 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.

What do the symbols Z, N, A mean respectively?

_____ + _____ = mass number (A).

What does the 12 represent in ¹²C?

_____ 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.

The ________ _____ exert the strongest controls on the properties of an atom.

What determines the ionization behavior of atoms?

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)?

What happens when something is oxidized?

_____ _____ results from attraction between positively and negatively charged atoms (cations and anions).

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.

Ionic bonding can be predicted based on ____ of the elements.

A big difference in electronegativity leads to?

_____ is a balance between electrostatic attraction and repulsion.

_______ results from electron sharing to create a more stable orbital configuration.

Sharing of electrons allows elements with _____ electronegativities to bond.

Covalently bonded structures are less _____ than ionically bonded structures.

Are silicates more ionic or covalent?

______ ______ involves immobile cations surrounded by mobile electrons.

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 ____ plays a key role in mineral properties.

_____ ______ result from the polar properties of the water molecule.

What are the big 8 main elements used when making minerals?

What is the mineralogy definition of a coordination number?

Lower coordination number means there is a _____ radius.

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.

_____ coordination is four surrounding atoms.

_____ coordination is six surrounding atoms.

______ coordination has more space.

_______ coordination has less space.

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 directly overlies the first.

Due to similar properties, silver and gold will create alloys which are...

Only a few native elements use the closest packing structure, like...

For ionic bonding, the coordination number is...

For ionic bonding, the coordination polyhedron is...

The ____ ____ is the radius of the cation divided by the radius of the anion.

The radius ratio is almost always ____ than one.

Cations tend to be _____ than anions.

Anions tend to be ______ than cations.

The radius ratio allows us to predict the coordination ____ for a given ionic mineral/molecule.

All minerals must be electrically ____.

6-fold coordination makes an ___ sided figure.

An example of 3 fold coordination.

An example of 6 fold coordination.

An example of 8 fold coordination.

Native iron is not an ionically bonded mineral.

Oxygen is the most common anion in silicate minerals.

___ ____ 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.

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?

Name three examples of isodesmics.

____ is when some anion-cation bonds take >1/2 of the anion charge.

An example of anisodesmic.

When some anion-cation bonds take exactly 1/2 of the anion charge.

An example of a mesodesmic.

Corner sharing compounds.

Name two examples of tetrahedra sheets.

_ + _ = mass number (A).

As atomic number increases, electrons are added to orbitals for to energy.

The ____ _ exert the strongest controls on the properties of an atom.

_ _ results from attraction between positively and negatively charged atoms (cations and anions).

involves immobile cations surrounded by mobile electrons.

___ _ ____ bonding is an electrostatic but relatively weak bond in certain layered minerals.

_ __ result from the polar properties of the water molecule.

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 directly overlies the first.

The is the radius of the cation divided by the radius of the anion.

_ __ were developed in the 1920s to predict molecular/mineral structures for ionically bonded atoms.

_ cations are more likely to share edges or faces than _ cations.

Solid solution can take place when substituting ions have a similar _ and _

The external form and symmetry of a crystal reflects its _ arrangement.