1. What is a crystal?
2. Which elements do all silicate minerals contain?
3. Obsidian is a glass that formed when lava cools so quickly that the atoms to not have a chance to arrange themselves in crystals. Is obsidian a crystal? Explain your reasoning.
4. What are the eight major mineral groups?
5. One mineral sample has a ratio of two iron atoms to three oxygen atoms. Another sample has a ratio of three iron atoms to four oxygen atoms. Explain whether the mineral samples are made of the same chemical compound.
6. How does the native elements mineral group differ from all of the other mineral groups?
7. You take a trip to the natural history museum with your friend. During your visit your friend sees two minerals that are similar in color. One mineral contains the elements zinc, carbon, and oxygen. The other mineral contains the elements zinc, silicon, oxygen, and hydrogen. Your friend tells you that the minerals are in the same mineral group. Would you agree with your friend? Explain your reasoning.