7. What is the resistance of a mineral to scratching? Cleavage Fracture Hardness Structure
Question
7. What is the resistance of a mineral to scratching?
- Cleavage
- Fracture
- Hardness
- Structure
Solution
The resistance of a mineral to scratching is referred to as hardness. Hardness is a property that indicates how resistant a mineral is to scratching and abrasion. It is commonly measured using the Mohs scale of hardness, which rates minerals from 1 (talc) to 10 (diamond), with higher numbers indicating greater hardness.
To clarify the other terms:
- Cleavage refers to the way some minerals break along certain planes, resulting in flat surfaces.
- Fracture is the way a mineral breaks when it does not break along cleavage planes and results in irregular surfaces.
- Structure generally refers to the arrangement of atoms or molecules in the mineral, impacting its overall physical properties.
In summary, while cleavage, fracture, and structure are all significant properties of minerals, hardness specifically measures a mineral's resistance to scratching.
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