Question

If a scientist creates a new rock-like substance in a laboratory, why wouldn't this type of material be classified as a true mineral?

Question 5 options:

A There are no planes of weakness in its lattice structure


B It's not a naturally occurring substance


C It's too new to be a mineral


D It would not be hard enough

Answer 1

The reason why a new rock-like substance created in a laboratory would not be classified as a true mineral is because it does not meet one of the essential criteria for being considered a mineral: being a naturally occurring substance.

Minerals are formed naturally through geological processes over long periods of time. They are typically found in the Earth's crust or other natural environments. However, the substance created in a laboratory is artificially synthesized, meaning it is made by humans in a controlled setting rather than being formed naturally.

For example, if a scientist combines different chemical compounds in a lab and creates a rock-like substance, it may have similar physical properties to a mineral, such as hardness or color. However, since it was intentionally made by humans, it does not qualify as a true mineral.

Therefore, the correct answer is B: It's not a naturally occurring substance

Answer 2

B It's not a naturally occurring substance

Minerals are naturally occurring substances that form in geological processes. Since the scientist created this rock-like substance in a laboratory, it wouldn't be classified as a true mineral because it didn't occur naturally in the Earth's geological processes.