topaz
The mineral with the greatest hardness is the diamond.
Scratching a mineral with a nail is a test of hardness. It helps determine the relative hardness of the mineral compared to known substances on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness.
Mineral hardness measures the resistance of a mineral to scratching or abrasion. It is determined by the ability of a mineral to scratch another mineral or be scratched by it, as defined by the Mohs scale of hardness.
{| ! Hardness ! Mineral ! Absolute Hardness ! Image | 1 Talc (Mg3Si4O10(OH)2) 1 2 Gypsum (CaSO4·2H2O) 2 3 Calcite (CaCO3) 9 4 Fluorite (CaF2) 21 5 Apatite (Ca5(PO4)3(OH-,Cl-,F-) 48 6 Feldspar (KAlSi3O8) 72 7 Quartz (SiO2) 100 8 Topaz (Al2SiO4(OH-,F-)2) 200 9 Corundum (Al2O3) 400 10 Diamond (C) |}
According to the Mohs scale of hardness, Diamond has a hardness of 10 and Quartz has a hardness of 7. Any mineral with a hardness greater than 7 can scratch quartz and diamond can scratch any mineral with a hardness less than 10. Corundum (hardness of 9) and Topaz (hardness of 8) are two examples of minerals that can scratch quartz but not diamond.
The mineral with hardness 3 will get scratched.
Ruby, a variety of the mineral corundum, has a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness.
The unknown mineral has a hardness greater than that of apatite (which has a hardness of 5 on the Mohs scale) since it can scratch it. However, it has a hardness less than corundum (which has a hardness of 9) since it can be scratched by it. Therefore, we can conclude that the hardness of the unknown mineral is between 5 and 9 on the Mohs scale.
Diamond is the only mineral that has the same hardness as corundum, which is the second hardest natural mineral on the Mohs scale after diamond. Both corundum and diamond have a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale.
To determine the hardness of a mineral with a hardness between 5 and 9, you can perform a scratch test using reference minerals from the Mohs scale. Start by testing it against minerals with known hardness values, such as quartz (hardness 7) and topaz (hardness 8). If the unknown scratches quartz but is scratched by topaz, its hardness is between 7 and 8. This method will help narrow down the mineral's hardness more precisely.
the mineral that has a hardness of 7 is "Quarts
To determine the hardness of an unknown mineral with a hardness between 5 and 9, you can perform a scratch test using various reference minerals or materials with known hardness values from the Mohs scale. Start by testing the unknown mineral against a mineral with a hardness of 5, such as apatite, and gradually work your way up to harder minerals, like quartz (7) and topaz (8), until you observe whether the unknown mineral can scratch or be scratched by them. This will help you narrow down its hardness range more precisely. Additionally, using tools like a hardness kit with standardized materials can offer a more accurate assessment.
The mineral with the greatest hardness is the diamond.
Scratching a mineral with a nail is a test of hardness. It helps determine the relative hardness of the mineral compared to known substances on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness.
Mineral hardness measures the resistance of a mineral to scratching or abrasion. It is determined by the ability of a mineral to scratch another mineral or be scratched by it, as defined by the Mohs scale of hardness.
{| ! Hardness ! Mineral ! Absolute Hardness ! Image | 1 Talc (Mg3Si4O10(OH)2) 1 2 Gypsum (CaSO4·2H2O) 2 3 Calcite (CaCO3) 9 4 Fluorite (CaF2) 21 5 Apatite (Ca5(PO4)3(OH-,Cl-,F-) 48 6 Feldspar (KAlSi3O8) 72 7 Quartz (SiO2) 100 8 Topaz (Al2SiO4(OH-,F-)2) 200 9 Corundum (Al2O3) 400 10 Diamond (C) |}
the mineral that has a hardness of 7 is "Quarts