Question #65b61
1 Answer
Yes they do.
Explanation:
Minerals consists, like any other substance, out of molecules (very small particles that are build up from even smaller particles called atoms). These particles cannot be seen by eye but the results of the structure and combination of the molecules in the mineral can be observed! For example the color of the mineral!
These small particles, the molecules, can interfere with each other on many unique ways and also the environment influences how we will see the mineral.
A mineral type has one specific chemical composition. The enormous amount of molecules have a certain configuration which causes the mineral to have the properties that it has.
To be able to separate minerals from normal stones, we compare the composition. A normal stone does not have a specific chemical composition but the mineral does. By looking at the physical and chemical properties we can identify different types of minerals.
It is not true that every mineral consists out of 1 unique type of element. The configuration of elements and molecules do have major effect on the physical and chemical properties.
For example: the gray line of the pencil is graphite, which consist out of carbon atoms.
The same carbon atoms can also be arranged differently and create another configuration which results in pure diamond!
