GSC 101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Unified Atomic Mass Unit, Feldspar, Continental Crust
Document Summary
Elements and atoms=gold is an element and when you keep cutting it in half you get an atom. Electrons= move between atoms to allow chemical bonding. Ionic bonding= atoms exchange electrons and become charged ions that stick together. Mixtures= physically combined rather than chemically like compounds. Five characteristics of a mineral: naturally occurring, inorganic (no carbon or hydrogen, solid, characteristic chemical formula, crystalline. Rocks vs minerals= rocks are mixtures of crystals and minerals. Composition: polyatomic ions= non-metals and oxygen silicate= silicon surrounded by oxygen atoms metals= common in earths crust. Feldspar= aluminum silicates with potassium quartz= pure silicate with no metals. The continental crust is about 75% feldspar and quartz. Carbonate= shells of marine creatures combined with metal calcium. Polymorphs or allotropes= made of the same atoms with different crystalline arrangements. The color indicates the presence of certain metals. Hardness= the ability of a mineral to resist scratching.