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 chemical composition
C. The requirement that minerals must have a defined crystalline structure.
D. The requirement that minerals must be solid
C. The requirement that minerals must have a defined crystalline structure.
C. The requirement that minerals must have a defined crystalline structure.
The part of the definition of a mineral that describes the fact that their atoms are tightly packed together and cannot move freely is the requirement that minerals must have a defined crystalline structure. In a crystalline structure, the atoms of a mineral are arranged in a repeating pattern that is characteristic of the particular mineral. This arrangement creates the rigid structure of a mineral and gives it its physical properties, such as hardness and cleavage. To determine if a substance is a mineral, one would need to examine its crystal structure, typically through techniques such as X-ray crystallography. Therefore, the correct answer is C. The requirement that minerals must have a defined crystalline structure.
