A Substance That Cannot Be Broken Down by Chemical Means

question 53

Multiple Choice

A substance that cannot be broken down by chemical means into simpler substances is called a(n)

• A)solid.
• B)element.
• C)compound.
• D)mixture.

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Definitions:

Cleavage Planes

Natural planes of weakness along which minerals preferentially break, reflecting their crystallographic structure.

Asbestos

A general name for the fibrous varieties of a number of silicate minerals whose common characteristic is that they tend to form fibers.

Silicate Structure

The arrangement of silicon and oxygen atoms that forms the backbone of most minerals in the Earth's crust.

Silicon Tetrahedron

The fundamental building block of silicate minerals, consisting of a silicon atom surrounded by four oxygen atoms in a tetrahedral shape.