Chemistry Terms: A Brief Chemical Composition

Key Terms:

Mineral- a naturally occurring, inorganic solid that has a crustal structure and a definite chemical composition

Rock- a large mass of stone

Organic- derived from living organisms

Inorganic- not derived from living organisms

Pure Substance- a form of matter that has a constant chemical composition and characteristic properties. It cannot be separated into its several components without breaking its chemical bonds.

Element- a substance composed of a single kind of atom

Molecule- the smallest physical unit of an element or compound, consisting of one or more like atoms in a element and two of more different atoms in a compound

Compound- a substance in which two or more elements are chemically joined

Mixture- any combination or blend of different elements, kinds, qualities, etc

Solution- a mixture in which one substance is dissolved in another

Mohs Scale- a scale ranking ten minerals from softest to hardest;
Describe the properties of minerals: hardness, color, streak, crystal systems, cleavage, fracture, luster, and density

Explain how minerals are identified: Each mineral has its own specific properties that can be used to identify it

Distinguish the difference between general and specific properties: Physical properties are things like the weight, mass, density, or volume. General properties are things that can change, like color or texture.

Describe the processes by which minerals form: there are two processes that form minerals. They are crystallization of melted materials, and through crystallization of materials dissolved in