Question

while researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes: the mohs scale of mineral hardness is a ten - point scale that orders minerals by hardness based on their ability to scratch other minerals. minerals with larger numbers are harder than minerals with smaller numbers and can leave visible scratches on them. minerals with smaller numbers are softer than minerals with larger numbers and cannot leave visible scratches on them. the mineral gypsum has a mohs scale number of 2. the mineral fluorite has a mohs scale number of 4. the mineral quartz has a mohs scale number of 7. the student wants to emphasize fluorites mohs scale number. which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal? question 25 of 27 a quartz, which has a mohs scale number of 7, can scratch both gypsum and fluorite. b in the mohs scale of mineral hardness, quartz (7) is ranked higher than gypsum (2). c fluorite has a mohs scale number of 4, which means that it is harder than gypsum (2) but softer than quartz (7). d fluorite, gypsum, and quartz can be ordered by their ability to leave visible scratches on other minerals.

Explanation:

The Mohs scale ranks minerals by hardness. Higher - numbered minerals can scratch lower - numbered ones. Quartz has a Mohs number of 7, fluorite has 4, and gypsum has 2. So quartz can scratch both fluorite and gypsum. Fluorite can scratch gypsum but not quartz. Option A only mentions quartz scratching, option B just states quartz is ranked higher than gypsum, option C only compares fluorite to gypsum and quartz in terms of hardness. Option D orders all three minerals (fluorite, gypsum, quartz) by their ability to leave visible scratches on other minerals, which best uses relevant information about the Mohs scale.

Answer:

D. Fluorite, gypsum, and quartz can be ordered by their ability to leave visible scratches on other minerals.