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You can't scratch a diamond with your fingernail because diamonds are one of the hardest known materials, ranking 10 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness. Fingernails, made primarily of keratin, have a hardness of about 2.5 to 3 on the same scale, making them significantly softer than diamonds. This vast difference in hardness means that a diamond will easily resist scratches from materials that are much softer, including human nails.

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What is a mineral determined by using a fingernail penny or nail?

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.


Can a diamond scratch itself?

A diamond can scratch a diamond, but one diamond cannot scratch itself.


What is the hardness level of a fingernail?

A fingernail has a hardness level of about 2.5 to 3 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness. This scale measures the scratch resistance of various minerals, with 1 being talc and 10 being diamond. The relatively low hardness of fingernails makes them susceptible to scratches and damage from harder materials.


What mineral that you can't scratch with your fingernail but a copper penny will?

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.


How could you find out the relative hardness of three minerals if you had no tools and couldn't use your fingernail?

You could perform a scratch test by trying to scratch one mineral with another. Whichever mineral leaves a mark or scratch on the other is harder. By comparing the results of scratching each mineral with the others, you can determine their relative hardness.

Related Questions

Can a diamond scratch a kaolin?

Kaolin is a soft white clay used in making porcelain. You can scratch kaolin with your fingernail, so, because diamond is the hardest known mineral, of course a diamond will also scratch kaolin.


What is the only thing that can scratch a diamond?

The only thing or mineral that will scratch diamond is another diamond. Scientists use a penny nail and fingernail to see what number it is. On a scale measured from 1-10 diamond is 10 ranked as hardest mineral, so nothing scratches diamond except diamond.


If you scrape a rock with your fingernail and your fingernail leaves a scratch it must be?

Your nail is 2.5 so the rocks you can scratch are, Gypsum and Talc.


What is a mineral determined by using a fingernail penny or nail?

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.


Can you get HIV from a fingernail scratch?

No, you cannot get HIV from a fingernail scratch. HIV is transmitted through specific bodily fluids, such as blood, semen, vaginal fluids, and breast milk. Casual contact like a fingernail scratch does not pose a risk for HIV transmission.


What is a word that matches to cut with a fingernail?

Scratch.


Can a diamond scratch itself?

A diamond can scratch a diamond, but one diamond cannot scratch itself.


Can your fingernail scratch talc?

you can scratch talc becuase it is the softest mineral on the moth scale.


Why can your fingernail scratch talc?

Talc is a very soft mineral, ranking as 1 on the Mohs scale of hardness, and your fingernail is harder at around 2.5. This means your fingernail can easily scratch talc due to the difference in hardness levels.


Can quartz scratch a diamond?

No. Only a diamond can scratch another diamond.


What color is a fingernail scratch on the skin?

Most scratches from fingernails leave red marks where the scratch occurred.


Can a knife scratch a diamond?

Nope! A diamond is the hardest substance on earth so only a diamond can scratch a diamond!