A student holds a mineral up to the light. She is most likely observing which property?(1 point)
Responses
hardness
hardness
luster
luster
cleavage
cleavage
tenacity
tenacity
To determine which property the student is most likely observing when holding a mineral up to the light, we can review the given options: hardness, luster, cleavage, and tenacity.
1. Hardness: Hardness refers to the mineral's resistance to scratching. It is typically evaluated by testing the mineral against a known scale of mineral hardness, such as the Mohs scale. Observing hardness does not require holding the mineral up to the light.
2. Luster: Luster describes how light reflects off the surface of a mineral. It is categorized into two main types: metallic and non-metallic. Holding the mineral up to the light allows the student to observe the reflectivity and shine, helping to determine the mineral's luster.
3. Cleavage: Cleavage refers to the way a mineral breaks along planes of weakness, producing smooth, flat surfaces. It is usually determined by examining the mineral's fracture pattern. Holding the mineral up to the light is not directly related to observing cleavage.
4. Tenacity: Tenacity refers to the mineral's resistance to breaking, bending, or deforming. Unlike hardness, it considers the mineral's behavior beyond just scratching. Evaluating tenacity does not require holding the mineral up to the light.
Based on these explanations, the most likely property the student is observing when holding the mineral up to the light is luster.