Exam 2: Atoms, Elements, and Minerals

The atomic mass number is equal to the number of neutrons in an atom.

Five of the six minerals collectively known as asbestos contain single chains of silica tetrahedral and belong to the _______.

It is clear that exposure to white asbestos causes cancer among non-smoking asbestos workers.

Clay minerals are very common in the Earth's upper mantle.

The innermost energy level in the standard model of an atom is full when it possesses eight electrons.

Minerals that have the same chemical composition but have different crystalline structures exhibit polymorphism

The common mineral ___ is an example of an isolated silica tetrahedron structure.

The atomic number of an element is equal to the number of protons in each atom.

_______ and sapphire are both varieties of the common mineral corundum.

____, a Danish naturalist, was the first to note that the angle between two adjacent faces of a crystal of quartz is always exactly the same.

The quality and intensity of light that is reflected from the surface of a mineral is termed luster.

A mineral is defined as a crystalline solid that is naturally occurring, has a specific chemical composition and forms through geologic processes.

In some minerals the bonds are equally strong in all directions, therefore they have no cleavage but instead _____ along irregular surfaces that are commonly curved.

The third most abundant element in the Earth's crust is ______; it is more common than iron.

_____ is the ability of a mineral to break, when struck or split, along preferred planar directions.

In order for a particular type of material to be classified as a mineral, it must ____.

Specific gravity is the ratio of a mass of a substance to the mass of an equal volume of air.

The _____ group of minerals are sheet silicates.

Rocks are defined as naturally-formed aggregates of minerals or mineral-like substances.

The atomic number of an element equals the number of _____ in each atom.