Matter and Minerals

What is Matter?
Matter the substance of which any physical
object is composed
States of Matter:
Solid
Liquid
Gas
Examples:

Controlling factors:
Temperature
Pressure

Gold

Mercury

Oxygen

solid

liquid

gas

The stuff that makes up all matter

The make-up of solid matter on Earth:
Atoms Elements Compounds Minerals Rocks
(smallest)

Elements:
fundamental building blocks
smallest matter that cant be broken down

(largest)

Periodic Table of Elements

The stuff that makes up all matter

The make-up of solid matter on Earth:
Atoms Elements Compounds Minerals Rocks
(smallest)

(largest)

Atoms:
the stuff that builds elements
the smallest particle that uniquely defines an element

Atomic Structure
Particles that make up an atom:
Protons: positive (+) charge
Neutrons: no charge
Electrons: negative (-) charge
Protons + neutrons define the nucleus of an atom.

Layers of electrons that orbit around the nucleus

are called orbitals or energy-level shells.

Atomic Structure

Periodic Table of Elements

Atomic Number (# of protons)

Mass number = # protons + # neutrons

Can atoms of the same element have
different mass numbers? YES
These are called isotopes.
Example: (Carbon)

12C 13C 14C

Atomic weight =
# protons + average # neutrons

Atomic Structure
Atoms of the same element:
have the same number of protons
(i.e., same atomic number)
can have different numbers of neutrons
(referred to as isotopes)
can have different numbers of electrons

Ion an atom that has gained or lost an electron

Atomic Structure

Sodium atom
loses an electron

Chlorine atom
gains an electron

(becomes positively
Charged ION)

(becomes negatively
Charged ION)

An Ion is a particle that is electrically charged (positive or

negative); an atom or molecule or group that has lost or gained
one or more electrons

Atomic Structure
Types of IONS:
CATIONS a loss of electrons, resulting
in a positive (+) charge
ANIONS a gain of electrons, resulting
in a negative (-) charge

Examples:

Na+

(cation)

Cl (anion)

NaCl (table salt)

chemical compound

Compounds
Definition:
A chemical compound consists of elements
that combine in a specific ratio.
Examples:

NaCl

H2O

The smallest quantity of a compound is

called a molecule.
Molecules are held together by chemical
bonding.

Bonding chemical matrimony

Ionic bonding:
orderly arrangement of oppositely charged ions
bonds are moderately strong (salt dissolves in water)

Bonding chemical matrimony

Metallic bonding:
electrons drift around from atom to atom
(e.g., copper, gold, silver)

good conductors of electrical current

generally weaker, less common than other bonds

Gold, Au

Bonding chemical matrimony

Van der Waals bonding:
sheets of covalently bonded atoms held together
by weak electrostatic forces
very weak bonds
examples: graphite, mica

The stuff that makes up all matter

The make-up of solid matter on Earth:
Atoms Elements Compounds Minerals Rocks
(smallest)

(largest)

Minerals: the building blocks of rocks

Definition of a Mineral:
naturally occurring
inorganic
solid
characteristic crystalline structure
definite chemical composition

Definition of a Rock:
A solid aggregate (mixture) of minerals

Physical Properties of Minerals

1- Optical Properties
Color
Streak
Luster
Diaphaneity
2- Cohesive Properties
Hardness
Cleavage
Parting
Fracture
Tenacity
3- Sense Properties
Touch
Odour
Teste
4- Specific Gravity 5- Other Properties such as: Magnetism, Electricity,
Radioactivity, Fusibility and Solubility

Mineral characteristics

Definition of a Mineral:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

naturally occurring
inorganic
solid
characteristic crystalline structure
definite chemical composition

steel
no, #1

plastic
no, #1

sugar table salt

no, #1,2
YES!

basalt
no, #5

obsidian
no, #4

mica
YES!

gold
YES!

mercury ice
no, #3 YES!

paper
chalk
no, #1,2 no, #2

coal
no, #2
coral
no, #2

Mineral characteristics

Naturally formed
No substance created artificially is a mineral.
examples: plastic, steel, sugar, paper

Inorganic
Anything formed by a living organism and
containing organic materials is not a mineral.
examples: wood, plants, shells, coal

Solid
Liquids and gases are not minerals.
examples: water, petroleum, lava, oxygen

Mineral characteristics

Characteristic crystalline structure

must have an ordered arrangement of atoms
displays repetitive geometric patterns in 3-D
glass not a mineral (no internal crystalline structure)

Definite chemical composition

must have consistent chemical formula
examples: gold (Au), quartz (SiO2), orthoclase (KAlSi3O8)

basalt (like many other rocks) contains variable ratios

of different minerals; thus, has no consistent formula

How many minerals are there?

Nearly 4,000 types of minerals

Only ~30 occur commonly (whew!)
Why not more?

Some combinations are chemically impossible

Relative abundances of elements dont allow more

Element abundances in the crust

All others: 1.5%