The Properties of Minerals

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The Properties of Minerals

• We have to start somewhere….

• Atom– Comes from the Greek word ‘atomos’ meaning

indivisible– The smallest component of an element having

the chemical properties of the element.

The Properties of Minerals

• Groups of atoms form molecules.– The simplest unit of a chemical substance.

• A group of two or more atoms

The Properties of Minerals

• An atom consists of an electron(e-) cloud that surrounds a dense nucleus.

• The nucleus contains positively charged protons(P+) and electrically neutral neutrons. (N)

• The cloud is made up of negatively charged electrons.

The Properties of Minerals

• Element– A simple substance that can not be broken

down into simpler substances by ordinary chemical means.

The Properties of Minerals

• Compound – A substance made of two or more elements that

are chemically combined.

The Three States of Matter

• Solid– Particles are fixed in position but still vibrate– A solid is poorly compressed and changes

volume only slightly.– Particles can not move past each other.

The Three States of Matter

• Liquid– Particles will flow and take the shape of any

container.– A liquid is poorly compressed and changes

volume only slightly.– Particles are free to move around each other.

The Three States of Matter

• Gas– Particles will flow and take the shape of any

container.– Volume of a gas is dependent of the size of the

contained and is easily compressed.– Particles are free to move around each other.

Chemical Symbols

• Chemical Symbol– The shorthand way of writing the name of an

element.

Chemical Symbols

Oxygen O Hydrogen HNitrogen N Carbon CAluminium Al Helium HeIron Fe Lead PbSodium Na Mercury Hg

Chemical Formulas

• Chemical Formulas– Formula that shows the elements that make up

a compound

Chemical Formulas

• Subscript– Number in a chemical formula that shows how

many of each atom are in one molecule of a compound.

Chemical Formulas

• Let’s look at:

H2O2

Hydrogen peroxide

In the above chemical formula, the 2 after the H and the O indicate That there are 2 atoms of Hydrogen and 2 atoms of Oxygen in eachMolecule of Hydrogen peroxide.

Chemical Formulas

Water H2O

Carbon monoxide CO

Carbon dioxide CO2

Iron sulfide FeS2

Calcium carbonate CaCO3

Aluminum oxide Al2O3

Ammonium hydroxide NH4OH

Silica SiO2

Sodium phosphate NaPO4

Hydrogen peroxide H2O2

Minerals

• Minerals– Naturally occurring inorganic solid from

elements or compounds.

The Crust of the Earth

• About 75% of the Earths crust is made up of the elements oxygen and silicon.

• When oxygen and silicon combine they form silica

• Sand is mostly silica in the form of quartz.

The Crust of the Earth

• Chemical formula: – Silica (silicon dioxide, SiO2)

The Crust of the Earth

http://geography.sierra.cc.ca.us/Booth/Physical/chp13_earth/crust_composition.gif