answersLogoWhite

0

A mineral is a naturally occurring, inanimate object with a highly specific chemical composition. Coral is the fossilized remnants of a living aquatic creature and thus does not qualify.

Coral is also not considered a mineral since it is organic. All real minerals are inorganic.

ANS: 3

By definition #1: coral is not a mineral because it is not homogeneous, it does not have a definite chemical composition nor is it crystalline.

Dead carbonate coral skeletons can meet definition #3 for being a mineral since they are composed of inorganic matter. The skeletons are composed predominately of calcium carbonate. Not all carbon compounds are organic. Carbonates are one class of chemicals that are considered inorganic even though they contain carbon. Carbon dioxide gas is also considered to be inorganic.

This is one of those questions that does not have a right or wrong answer. It depends on how you argue the point.

===Good definition for "mineral" from http://www.thefreedictionary.com/mineral===

1. A naturally occurring, homogeneous inorganic solid substance having a definite chemical composition and characteristic crystalline structure, color, and hardness.
2. Any of various natural substances, as:

a. An element, such as gold or silver.
b. An organic derivative, such as coal or petroleum.
c. A substance, such as stone, sand, salt, or coal, that is extracted or obtained from the ground or water and used in economic activities.

3. A substance that is neither animal nor vegetable; inorganic matter.
4. An inorganic element, such as calcium, iron, potassium, sodium, or zinc, that is essential to the nutrition of humans, animals, and plants.
5. An ore.

User Avatar

Wiki User

15y ago

What else can I help you with?

Related Questions

Is liquid mercury a mineral?

Yes, liquid mercury is considered a mineral as it is a naturally occurring chemical element found in the Earth's crust. It meets the criteria for being classified as a mineral based on its composition and crystal structure.


Is the Mercury in a thermometer considered a mineral?

No, because the metal mercury which is a liquid at room temperature, does not occur naturally in the "native" state. It is usually found as Cinnabar (Mercuric oxide). It is an element.


What is a hazardous mineral fiber found in building materials?

it is mercury because mercury is the most hazardous mineral fiber


What mineral is used to make thermometers?

mercury


Where does mercury in thermometers come from?

Mercury comes from several types of mineral deposits world wide, but the most common type of mineral is called cinnabar. Cinnabar is mercury chemically bound to sulfur, i.e. HgS. Heating this mineral causes the sulfur to combine with oxygen creating sulfur dioxide, SO2, as a gas. (The gas is now considered a pollutant.) What remains is the mercury. Although mercury is a relatively rare element, there are dozens of sites around the world where it is actively mined.


Is mercury a mineral?

Minerals containing mercury are solid salts of the metal (e.g. cinnabar, corderoite, livingstonite, vermilion, calomel). The liquid metal must be extracted from these ores by smelting, as it does not exist in the metallic form naturally.


What is ore cinnabar?

Cinnabar is a mercury mineral - HgS.


Could quartz be considered a mineral?

Quartz is a mineral.


What metal is in cinnorbar?

Cinnabar is mercury(II) sulphide and the metal is mercury.


When is water a mineral?

Water as a solid, in the form of ice, is considered a mineral when it is naturally occurring. Ice in snow banks is considered a mineral but ice cubes you make in your freezer are not a mineral.


What mineral is liquid at room temperature and is used in thermometers?

Mercury


What is a Mineral that consists of mercury and silver?

A mineral that consists of mercury and silver is called amalgam. Amalgam is a naturally occurring alloy that forms when silver and mercury combine in a specific ratio. It is typically found in association with certain ore deposits.

Trending Questions
Which is the smallest atom magnesium calcium barium or strontium? How many moles of potassium chloride are formed from 7 mol of HCl? What happens to granite when it is subjected to high heat and pressure? What happens to the strength of your electromagnet if you use more turns of wire? What is the theoretical yield of bromobenzene in this reaction when 26.0 g of benzene reacts with 56.3 g of bromine? Can you keep ice from expanding? How do intensive farmers make sure that the soil has ll of the nutriente? What three landlocked nations have most of their landmass located in the Sahara desert? How many elements occur naturally in the Earth's crust? What is magma in a sill which pushes up to form a rock dome called? How do the atoms of calcium compare to the atoms of sodium? When the seafloor spreads apart does hot saltwater move upward and flows from the cracks? Subduction of oceanic lithosphere under a continental block gives rise to what type of geologic structure that is characterized by a continental volcanic arc and associated igneous plutons? How are earthquakes volcanoes and plate tectonics related? What types of landforms do constructive forces create? What is the partial pressure of carbon dioxide in a container that holds 5 moles of carbon dioxide 3 moles of nitrogen and 1 mole of hydrogen and has a total pressure of 1.05 ATM? What is the organ that release carbon dioxide into the air? How many degrees Celsius is the rain forest? Is the product formed on burning sulfur powder acidic or basic? What is the compound name for copper salt?