Question

why is hardness sometimes referred to as scratchability? * 1 point every mineral can scratch you and cause damage. every mineral’s hardness can be scratched but by different common objects. this helps to figure out its hardness on the mohs’ hardness scale. every mineral can be scratched by something soft like a fingernail.

Explanation:

To determine the correct answer, we analyze each option:

• The first option is incorrect because the definition of hardness as scratchability is not about minerals scratching people but about their ability to be scratched or scratch others.
• The second option is correct. The Mohs' Hardness Scale measures a mineral's hardness by determining which common objects can scratch it (or which it can scratch). So hardness being referred to as scratchability relates to identifying a mineral's hardness by what can scratch it.
• The third option is incorrect because not every mineral can be scratched by a fingernail (e.g., harder minerals like quartz cannot be scratched by a fingernail).

Answer:

B. Every mineral’s hardness can be scratched but by different common objects. This helps to figure out its hardness on the Mohs’ Hardness Scale.