Oh, dude, like, a copper coin can totally scratch minerals with a hardness of 3 or lower on the Mohs scale. So, you know, minerals like calcite, gypsum, and talc better watch out for that shiny penny! But, like, don't go around scratching random rocks with your spare change, okay?
Minerals that have a hardness less than that of a knife blade (5.5 on the Mohs scale) can be scratched with a knife. These minerals include gypsum, calcite, and talc.
Yes, coal is not officially assigned a Mohs hardness value as it is not a mineral. However, coal is generally regarded as a relatively soft material compared to most minerals, and can be easily scratched with a fingernail or copper coin, which are examples of materials with hardness ratings lower than 2.5 on the Mohs scale.
When a copper coin is heated on a Bunsen flame, it undergoes oxidation, forming copper oxide. Copper oxide is a black compound, which is why the coin appears black.
Copper is often associated with minerals such as chalcopyrite, bornite, and chalcocite. These minerals contain various elements such as sulfur, iron, and copper itself. Through extraction processes, copper can be obtained from these minerals.
Sulfur is a relatively soft mineral, with a hardness of 2 on the Mohs scale. It can be scratched by minerals with a higher hardness, such as calcite (3 on the Mohs scale) and fluorite (4 on the Mohs scale).
Minerals that can be scratched with a knife blade but not with a copper coin typically have a hardness between 3.5 and 5 on the Mohs scale. For instance, minerals like calcite (hardness 3) can be scratched by a copper coin but not by a knife blade, while minerals like fluorite (hardness 4) can be scratched by a knife but not by a copper coin. Therefore, minerals like fluorite would fit your criteria.
Quartz (Mohs 7.0) and diamond (Mohs 10,0) are two of many minerals that are harder than copper (Mohs 2.5-3.0).
Copper sulfide minerals, such as chalcocite and bornite, can be scratched by a penny but not a fingernail. This is due to the Mohs hardness scale, where these minerals have a hardness greater than a penny (3.5) but less than a fingernail (2.5).
science
GypsumHardnessMineralAssociations and Uses1Talc (Softest)Talcum powder. (can be scratched by a fingernail.)2GypsumPlaster of paris.Gypsum is formed when seawater evaporates from the Earth's surface. (May be scratched by a fingernail or by a copper coin.)3CalciteLimestone and most shells contain calcite.(Can be scratched by a steel pocket knife or sometimes a copper coin. Will scratch a fingernail, may scratch a copper coin.)4FluoriteFluorine in fluorite prevents tooth decay.(Can be scratched by a steel pocket knife. Will scratch a fingernail and a copper coin.)5ApatiteWhen you are hungry you have a big "appetite".(Can be scratched by a steel pocket knife. Will scratch a fingernail and a copper coin.)6OrthoclaseOrthoclase is a feldspar, and in German, "feld" means "field".(Will not scratch glass but will scratch steel blades, copper coins & fingernails.)7Quartz (Will scratch glass, steel blades, copper coins & fingernails.)8TopazThe November birthstone. Emerald and aquamarine are varieties of beryl with a hardness of 8. (Will scratch glass, steel blades, copper coins & fingernails.)9CorundumSapphire and ruby are varieties of corundum. Twice as hard as topaz.(Will scratch glass, steel blades, copper coins & fingernails.)10Diamond (hardest)Used in jewelry and cutting tools. Four times as hard as corundum.(Will scratch all of the above.)
nickel
Halite has a hardness of 2-2.5 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness. This means it is relatively soft and can be easily scratched with a fingernail or a copper coin.
Minerals that have a hardness less than that of a knife blade (5.5 on the Mohs scale) can be scratched with a knife. These minerals include gypsum, calcite, and talc.
Minerals that can be scratched by a knife typically have a Mohs hardness of less than 5.5. Common examples include talc, gypsum, and calcite, which are softer minerals. A knife, generally made of hardened steel, can scratch these softer minerals, while harder minerals like quartz or diamond cannot be scratched by a knife.
apatite with a steel knife feldspar with window glass
The Mohs hardness of bentonite clay typically ranges from 1 to 2.5. This means it is a relatively soft material that can be easily scratched with a fingernail or copper coin.
The rock would likely be classified as having a hardness of around 3.5 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness. This would indicate that the rock is softer than minerals like quartz but harder than minerals like calcite. Examples of rocks with this hardness include gypsum and calcite.