california prentice hall earth science chapter 2 vocabulary
Order by
21 terms
Terms | Definitions |
|---|---|
 element | a substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by ordinary chemical or physical means |
| atomic number | the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom where electrons are located |
| isotope | an atom with the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons for a given element; An isotopes mass is different from that of the given element |
| mass number | the number of neutrons and protons in the nucleus of an atom |
| compound | a substance formed by the chemical combination of two or more elements in definite proportions and usually having properties different rom those of its constituent elements |
| chemical bond | a force that holds together atoms that form a compound |
| ion | an atom or molecule that possesses an electrical charge |
| ionic bond | a chemical bond formed between two ions with opposite charges. Ionic bonds form when one atom gives up one or more electrons to another atom. These bonds can form between a pair of atoms or between molecules and are the type of bond found in salts |
| covalent bond | the bond formed by the snaring of a pair of electrons or two atoms |
| metallic bond | the type of chemical bond between atoms in a metallic element, formed by the valence electrons moving freely through the metal lattice. |
| mineral | naturally occurring inorganic crystalline material |
| silicate | any one of numerous minerals that have the oxygen and silicon tetrahedron as their basic structure |
| silicon-oxygen tetrahedron | a structure composed of four oxygen atoms surrounding a silicon atom, which constitutes the basic building blocks |
| streak | the color of a mineral in powdered form |
| luster | the appearance or quality of light reflected from the surface of a mineral |
| crystal form | the external appearance of a mineral as determined by its internal arrangement of atoms |
| hardness | the resistance a mineral offers to scratching |
| Mohs scale | a series of 10 minerals used as a standard in determining hardness |
| cleavage | the tendency of a mineral to break along planes of weak bonding |
| fracture | any break or rupture in rock along which no appreciable movement has taken place |
| density | mass per unit volume of a substance, usually expressed as grams per cubic centimeter |
First Time Here?
Welcome to Quizlet, a fun, free place to study. Try these flashcards, find others to study, or make your own.