Final answer:
The mineral that is not a structural component of bone is fluoride. Bone is primarily composed of a matrix of collagen fibers and inorganic salt crystals, including calcium phosphate and calcium carbonate. While fluoride plays a role in bone health, it is not considered a structural component of bone.
Step-by-step explanation:
The mineral that is not a structural component of bone is fluoride.
Bone is primarily composed of a matrix of collagen fibers, along with inorganic salt crystals like calcium phosphate and calcium carbonate. These salt crystals form hydroxyapatite, which gives bones their hardness and strength. Other inorganic salts such as magnesium hydroxide, fluoride, and sulfate can also be incorporated in the hydroxyapatite crystals.
Fluoride plays a role in bone health by displacing the hydroxyl group in bone's hydroxyapatite crystals and forming fluorapatite. This helps stabilize and strengthen bone mineral. However, it is not considered a structural component of bone.