Final answer:
To be considered a mineral, a material must be naturally occurring, inorganic, have a crystalline structure, possess a definite chemical composition, and be solid at normal temperatures and pressures. An example of a mineral is quartz, while glass, which is made by humans, is not a mineral.
Step-by-step explanation:
A material must have certain characteristics to be considered a mineral:
- Naturally occurring: Minerals must be formed through natural processes, not by human intervention. For example, quartz is a mineral because it is naturally formed in the Earth's crust. On the other hand, glass, which is made by humans, is not a mineral.
- Inorganic: Minerals are made of non-living substances. For instance, calcite is an inorganic mineral because it is composed of calcium carbonate, which does not contain any living matter. However, diamonds, which are made of carbon, are not minerals because carbon is an organic element.
- Crystalline structure: Minerals have a specific atomic arrangement that repeats in a regular pattern, forming crystals. For example, halite (table salt) has a crystalline structure, whereas sugar does not.
- Definite chemical composition: Minerals have a fixed chemical formula. An example is pyrite, which is always composed of iron sulfide (FeS2).
- Solid: Minerals must be in a solid state at normal temperatures and pressures. Water, which is a liquid at room temperature, is not considered a mineral.
An example of a mineral is quartz, which possesses all the necessary characteristics. A substance that does not meet these requirements, like glass, is not a mineral.
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