A mineral is defined as which of the following?

A mineral is defined as which of the following?

• A. A gas produced by weathering
• B. A mixture of different minerals
• C. A solid substance that has a specific chemical composition and a crystal structure
• D. A liquid produced in magma

Answer: (C)

Minerals are natural, solid substances that have a definite chemical composition and an orderly crystalline arrangement of atoms. The statement that describes a solid with a specific chemical composition and a crystal structure matches these essential properties, making it the correct choice. A gas produced by weathering isn’t a solid and isn’t a mineral. A mixture of different minerals lacks a single, definite chemical formula and uniform crystal arrangement. A liquid produced in magma isn’t solid, so it doesn’t meet the mineral criteria.

Minerals are natural, solid substances that have a definite chemical composition and an orderly crystalline arrangement of atoms. The statement that describes a solid with a specific chemical composition and a crystal structure matches these essential properties, making it the correct choice. A gas produced by weathering isn’t a solid and isn’t a mineral. A mixture of different minerals lacks a single, definite chemical formula and uniform crystal arrangement. A liquid produced in magma isn’t solid, so it doesn’t meet the mineral criteria.