A mineral that can be scratched by a penny (which has a hardness of about 3.5 on the Mohs scale) but not by a fingernail (which has a hardness of about 2.5 to 3) would have a hardness between 3 and 3.5. This means the mineral's hardness is likely around 3.2 to 3.4, indicating it is softer than the penny but harder than a fingernail. Examples of minerals that fit this description could include calcite or gypsum, depending on their specific characteristics.
The mineral that you can't scratch with your fingernail but can be scratched by a copper penny is calcite. Calcite has a hardness of about 3 on the Mohs scale, while fingernails have a hardness of around 2.5. A copper penny, which has a hardness of approximately 3.5, can easily scratch calcite.
A mineral's hardness can be determined using a fingernail, penny, or nail by testing its ability to scratch or be scratched by these objects. The Mohs scale of hardness ranks minerals from 1 (talc) to 10 (diamond), with a fingernail typically rated at 2.5, a penny at about 3.5, and a nail around 5.5. By attempting to scratch the mineral with these items, you can estimate its hardness based on which objects can scratch it and which cannot.
Halite, also known as rock salt, has a hardness of 2.5 on the Mohs scale. It is a relatively soft mineral that can be easily scratched with a fingernail or a copper penny.
The mineral you are describing is likely talc. Talc is a nonmetallic mineral that is typically black in some varieties and has a very low hardness of 1 on the Mohs scale, allowing it to be easily scratched by a penny, which has a hardness of about 3. Its softness and slippery feel are characteristic of talc, making it commonly used in products like talcum powder.
Talc can scratch Talc , although Talc's hardness varies it is considered a soft mineral, that can even be scratched with a finger nail. Any mineral or material with a hardness equal to or greater than 1 on the Mohs hardness scale will be able to scratch talc. Talc is the softest mineral listed on the Mohs scale, listed as a 1 on the scale which is graded from 1 through 10, with 10 being the hardest (diamond).
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).
A mineral can be tested for hardness using a fingernail, penny, or nail, which are common items that serve as reference points on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness. For instance, a fingernail has a hardness of about 2.5, while a copper penny is around 3.5. If a mineral can be scratched by a fingernail, it is softer than 2.5; if it can be scratched by a penny but not a fingernail, it falls between 2.5 and 3.5. This simple test helps in identifying the mineral's hardness and assists in classification.
When you scratch a mineral with a penny, nail, and your fingernail, you are testing the mineral's hardness. The ability to scratch or be scratched by certain materials helps determine the mineral's hardness on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness.
The mineral that you can't scratch with your fingernail but can be scratched by a copper penny is calcite. Calcite has a hardness of about 3 on the Mohs scale, while fingernails have a hardness of around 2.5. A copper penny, which has a hardness of approximately 3.5, can easily scratch calcite.
A mineral's hardness can be determined using a fingernail, penny, or nail by testing its ability to scratch or be scratched by these objects. The Mohs scale of hardness ranks minerals from 1 (talc) to 10 (diamond), with a fingernail typically rated at 2.5, a penny at about 3.5, and a nail around 5.5. By attempting to scratch the mineral with these items, you can estimate its hardness based on which objects can scratch it and which cannot.
The mineral that can be scratched by a penny is talc. Talc is the softest mineral on the Mohs scale, with a hardness of 1. A penny has a hardness of around 3.5 on the Mohs scale.
Halite, also known as rock salt, has a hardness of 2.5 on the Mohs scale. It is a relatively soft mineral that can be easily scratched with a fingernail or a copper penny.
The Mohs hardness of coal is typically around 1 to 2. This means coal is a relatively soft mineral and can be easily scratched with a fingernail or a copper penny.
The mineral that can be scratched by glass but not a penny is calcite. Calcite has a hardness of 3 on the Mohs scale, which is lower than the hardness of glass (5.5) but higher than that of a penny (2.5).
A test using a fingernail, penny, or nail typically refers to a hardness test, specifically the Mohs scale of mineral hardness. By scratching the surface of a material with these items, one can determine its hardness relative to other substances. For example, if a fingernail can scratch a mineral but a penny cannot, the mineral's hardness is between 2.5 and 3 on the Mohs scale. This simple method helps in identifying minerals based on their resistance to scratching.
The hardness of a mineral is determined by scratching it with materials of known hardness, such as a fingernail, a copper penny, a steel nail, or a piece of glass. The mineral is assigned a hardness value based on which material can scratch it. This is known as the Mohs scale of hardness.
No, to tell how hard a mineral is you either have to test it or determine what mineral it is. Testing uses materials of known hardness such as a fingernail, or copper penny, or scratch plate, if the mineral is scratched by whatever you use to test it is softer. Hardness however is not based on size it will be the same for any sample of the same rock no matter what the size because its based on atomic arrangement and bond type.