Minerals must have atoms that are tightly packed together and cannot move freely. Which part of the definition of a mineral does this describe?
A. the requirement that minerals must be naturally occurring
B. the requirement that minerals must have a defined crystalline structure
C. the requirement that minerals must have a defined chemical composition
D. the requirement that minerals must be solids
D. the requirement that minerals must be solids
The part of the definition of a mineral that describes minerals having atoms that are tightly packed together and cannot move freely is option D - the requirement that minerals must be solids.
The part of the definition of a mineral that describes the requirement for atoms to be tightly packed together and incapable of free movement is the requirement that minerals must be solids.
To arrive at this answer, let's go through the options:
A. The requirement that minerals must be naturally occurring is not directly related to the tight packing of atoms in a mineral. Natural occurrence refers to minerals being formed through natural processes, rather than being artificially created.
B. The requirement that minerals must have a defined crystalline structure is not directly related to the tight packing of atoms. While a defined crystalline structure implies a specific arrangement of atoms, it doesn't necessarily imply that the atoms are tightly packed together.
C. The requirement that minerals must have a defined chemical composition also does not explicitly address the tight packing of atoms. It refers to the specific elements or compounds that make up a mineral, but not the arrangement or packing of those atoms.
D. The requirement that minerals must be solids indeed describes the characteristic of atoms being tightly packed together and unable to move freely. In a solid, the atoms are held in a fixed position due to strong intermolecular forces, resulting in their limited movement.
Therefore, the correct answer is D, the requirement that minerals must be solids.