Question

What makes one mineral harder than the other? Explain

Answer 1

Answer:The ones that are tightly bound together look different than do ones with looser bonds. For example, in the illustrations below, (A) shows the atomic structure of carbon in a diamond, and (B) is the carbon arrangement in graphite. (A) is more compact than (B), hence it is harder.

Explanation:Rocks are made of minerals, and different minerals have different crystal structures. The chemical bonds that hold atoms together in these minerals are stronger in some than in others, and the atoms themselves determine which bonds are stronger than others.

Answer 2

Answer:

The hardness of a mineral is mainly controlled by the strength of the bonding between the atoms and partly by the size of the atoms. It is a measure of the resistance of the mineral to scratching, the Mohs scale is for natural minerals.