What is salt classified as a mineral sugar or not?

Answer 1

Salt classifies as a mineral because salt has all 5 of the characteristics of a minerl. Which are : Naturally occurring, Inorganic, Solid, Has specific compositions and had a definate crystalline structure.

But now, if you compare and see if suger has those characteristic, it fails to meet some of these requirements to be a mineral.

Answer 2

By definition from "The Manual of Mineral Science 23rd Edition" by Klein and Dutrow, "A mineral is a naturally occurring solid with a highly ordered atomic arrangement and a definite (but not necessarily fixed), homogeneous chemical composition. Minerals are "usually" formed by inorganic processes" I believe through this definition, Sugar could be considered a mineral.

-Naturally occurring: Derived from plants and animals, natural pure state at STP is crystalline. -Highly ordered atomic arrangement: occurs in definite molecular arrangements

-Definite (not fixed) chemical composition: basic carbohydrate structures with variations; sucrose, fructose, glucose, etc. -"Usually" formed by inorganic processes: Similar to Calcite from mollusk and coral and Aragonite from human teeth. all of which are considered minerals of organic origin.

However this is still a gray area since this it seems has not been heavily debated. The only difference I can see is that all of the "organic" minerals are of animal origin whereas as sugar is mostly plant based.

Answer 3

A mineral is a naturally occurring solid formed through geological processes that has a characteristic chemical composition, a highly ordered atomic structure, and specific physical properties.

Or to put it another way a mineral is a substance you dig from the ground. You dig salt from deposits in the ground; but sugar is not found in deposits in the ground, it is an organic byproduct produced by plants.

Answer 4

A mineral is a naturallyoccuring non organic compound with a definite atomic structure. Sugar is a product of sugar cane which is organic, therefore, it is not a mineral.

Answer 5

it comesfrom sugarcane whitch is a plant why is sugar not classified as mineral?

Answer 6

because salt is bitter and sugar is sweet

Answer 7

Its a mineral that is called talc