1) What three conditions must be present for minerals to form through natural processes?

2) Why are minerals considered inorganic substances?

3) How do oxides differ from other minerals that contain oxygen atoms?

4) How is a sulfide different from a sulfate?

What makes native elements unique?

Answer:1. For minerals to form through natural processes, the correct elements must be present in the right amounts. The physical and chemical conditions, such as temperature, pressure, and pH, must be favorable. In addition, there must be enough time for the atoms to become ordered. Otherwise the mineral grains will remain very small.

2. In most cases, minerals are considered inorganic substances because they're not derived from or made by living matter, such as plants and animals. There are a few minerals, however, that are produced by living organisms.

3. In oxides, the oxygen atoms bond directly to one or more metals. In other minerals, such as carbonates, sulfates, and silicates, the oxygen atoms are part of molecules in which the oxygen is already bonded to another element, such as carbon, sulfur, or silicon. These molecules then bond to other elements.

4. In sulfides, sulfur atoms bond with one or more metals. In sulfates, the sulfur atoms are part of a molecule that also contains oxygen. The sulfate molecule is what bonds to other elements.

5. Native elements are unique in that they're composed of atoms of a single element. For example, gold is composed only of gold atoms. Silver is composed only of silver atoms.