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 occuring.
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 correct answer is D. The requirement that minerals must be solids.
To determine which part of the definition of a mineral describes the statement that minerals must have atoms that are tightly packed together and cannot move freely, we can break down the options:
A. The requirement that minerals must be naturally occurring: This part of the definition refers to the origin of minerals, not their atomic arrangement. It does not directly address the statement given.
B. The requirement that minerals must have a defined crystalline structure: This part of the definition is related to the arrangement of atoms in a mineral. Crystalline structure implies a regular and repeating pattern of atoms. This aligns with the statement that atoms must be tightly packed together and unable to move freely.
C. The requirement that minerals must have a defined chemical composition: This part of the definition focuses on the specific chemical elements present in a mineral. Though the composition affects the properties of a mineral, it does not directly address the atomic arrangement.
D. The requirement that minerals must be solids: This part of the definition refers to the physical state of minerals. While it is true that the atoms in minerals typically cannot move freely, the concept of tight packing is not explicitly stated here.
Based on the above analysis, the option that best matches the statement is:
B. The requirement that minerals must have a defined crystalline structure.
By understanding the concept of a defined crystalline structure, one can recognize that minerals possess tightly packed atoms that cannot move freely.