What mineral is the hardest known substance in nature? a. muscovite b. silicate c. native gold d. diamond?
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer is d. diamond.
Diamond is the hardest known natural material on Earth. It scores a 10 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness, which measures the ability of a substance to scratch another. On this scale, the hardness of diamond is the highest, meaning that no other naturally occurring material can scratch diamond. This property makes diamond incredibly useful in various applications, particularly in cutting, grinding, and drilling tools.
The structure of diamond is responsible for its exceptional hardness. Diamonds are made up of carbon atoms that are covalently bonded in a tetrahedral lattice structure. Each carbon atom forms four strong bonds with neighboring carbon atoms, creating a three-dimensional network. This tight and uniform structure gives diamond its rigidity and resistance to being deformed or scratched.
In contrast, the other options mentioned are not nearly as hard as diamond:
- Muscovite is a mineral in the mica group. It has a hardness of 2.5 to 4 on the Mohs scale, far softer than diamond. Muscovite is used in some electrical applications and as a decorative stone but is not nearly as hard.
- Silicate refers to a broad group of minerals that contain silicon and oxygen, such as quartz, which have varying hardness but none that come close to diamond.
- Native gold has a hardness of 2.5 to 3 on the Mohs scale, making it quite soft compared to diamond. Gold is often used in jewelry and electronics but is much softer and more malleable.
