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Minerals

List the five characteristics that define a mineral. Based on the accepted definition of a mineral, completely describe why or why not the following materials might be called a mineral: window glass, emerald, water, table salt, synthetic opal, wood, amber, and granite.

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Sample Answer

The five characteristics that define a mineral are:

Naturally occurring: Minerals must be formed naturally, not by human intervention.
Inorganic: Minerals must be inorganic, meaning that they are not derived from living organisms.
Solid: Minerals must be solids at room temperature and pressure.
Crystalline structure: Minerals must have a definite crystalline structure.
Definite chemical composition: Minerals must have a definite chemical composition.

Full Answer Section

Window glass: Window glass is not a mineral because it is not naturally occurring. It is made by humans from a mixture of sand, soda ash, and limestone.

Emerald: Emerald is a mineral because it meets all five of the criteria. It is naturally occurring, inorganic, solid, has a crystalline structure, and has a definite chemical composition (Al2Be3Si6O18).

Water: Water is not a mineral because it is not a solid at room temperature and pressure.

Table salt: Table salt is a mineral because it meets all five of the criteria. It is naturally occurring, inorganic, solid, has a crystalline structure, and has a definite chemical composition (NaCl).

Synthetic opal: Synthetic opal is not a mineral because it is not naturally occurring. It is made by humans from a mixture of silica and other minerals.

Wood: Wood is not a mineral because it is organic and does not have a definite chemical composition.

Amber: Amber is a mineraloid, which is a substance that has many of the characteristics of a mineral but does not meet all of the criteria. Amber is naturally occurring, inorganic, and has a crystalline structure. However, it does not have a definite chemical composition.

Granite: Granite is a rock, which is a mixture of two or more minerals. Granite contains the minerals quartz, feldspar, and mica.

Here is a table that summarizes the information above:

Material	Mineral	Reason
Window glass	No	Not naturally occurring
Emerald	Yes	Meets all five criteria
Water	No	Not a solid at room temperature and pressure
Table salt	Yes	Meets all five criteria
Synthetic opal	No	Not naturally occurring
Wood	No	Organic and does not have a definite chemical composition
Amber	Mineraloid	Naturally occurring, inorganic, and has a crystalline structure, but does not have a definite chemical composition
Granite	No	Rock, which is a mixture of two or more minerals

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