Minerals Quiz

Diamond is harder than quartz because it is ranked as the hardest mineral on Moh's hardness scale. Moh's hardness scale is a scale that measures the hardness of minerals based on their ability to scratch other minerals. Quartz has a hardness of 7 on the scale, while diamond has a hardness of 10, making it the hardest mineral. Therefore, diamond is harder than quartz.

The term "hexagonal" is not used to describe a mineral's luster. Luster refers to the way light reflects off the surface of a mineral. Shiny, glassy, and dull are all terms commonly used to describe a mineral's luster, but hexagonal refers to the crystal structure of a mineral, not its luster.

The color of the powder that a mineral leaves on a piece of white, unglazed porcelain is called the mineral's streak. This is because when a mineral is rubbed against the porcelain, it leaves behind a colored streak, which can be different from the color of the mineral itself. The streak can provide important information about the mineral's composition and can help in its identification.

Hardness is a physical property that can be measured and expressed quantitatively using a numerical scale. It refers to the resistance of a material to being scratched or indented. Different minerals and materials have different levels of hardness, which can be determined using various tests such as the Mohs scale. Therefore, hardness is a physical property that can be expressed in numbers.

Magnetism is considered a special property that applies to only a few minerals. While color, luster, and streak are common properties that can be used to identify minerals, magnetism is a unique property that is only exhibited by certain minerals, such as magnetite. This property allows these minerals to be attracted to magnets and distinguishes them from other minerals.

Calcite is the correct answer because it is a mineral that reacts with weak acids, such as vinegar or hydrochloric acid, by fizzing or effervescing. This reaction is due to the release of carbon dioxide gas when the acid reacts with the calcium carbonate present in calcite. Halite, magnetite, and quartz do not exhibit this characteristic fizzing reaction when exposed to weak acids.

The most common classification of minerals is based on their chemical composition. This means that minerals are grouped together based on the elements they are composed of. Minerals can be classified into different groups such as silicates, carbonates, sulfates, and oxides, among others. This classification is important because it helps scientists understand the properties and characteristics of different minerals and how they form. It also allows them to identify and categorize minerals based on their chemical composition, which is essential for studying their geological and industrial applications.

Halite, also known as rock salt, is a mineral that is commonly used as table salt due to its distinctive taste. Therefore, taste is the special property used to identify halite.