Question

Coal is made from the remains of dead plants. It is made of carbon and other elements. Is coal a mineral?

A Yes, because it is formed naturally.
B Yes, because it contains carbon.
C No, because it is created artificially.
D No, because it is an organic substance.

Answer 1

D No, because it is an organic substance. A mineral is "a solid inorganic substance of natural occurrence", therefore coal is not a mineral because it is organic, and minerals are inorganic.

Answer 2

Minerals are naturally-formed substances that have a specific chemical properties: abiogenic (minerals are not produced by or derived from living organisms, non-organic in origin), stable at room temperature (i.e. at 25 degrees C) , are represented by a known chemical formula , have an ordered atomic arrangement/structure. Coal is not classified as a mineral because it is an organic substance. Correct answer: D (coal is formed from the remains of dead plants and animals).