The University of Jordan Mineralogy 0345221

Department of Geology Home Assignment 2

Dr. Hind Ghanem Spring 2020

Due on Thursday 27-2-2020 at the beginning of class.

Q1. Use the following periodic table of elements to answer the following:

- Which is the most electronegative element?

- Is the bond that forms between radium and bromine ionic or covalent?
- If you are given the elements K, Mn, Al, F, Li and O. Which two elements will make the
strongest ionic bond? Why?

Q2. The following table shows two isotopes of carbon and their abundances and atomic masses.
Calculate the average atomic mass of carbon (show you work).

Isotope Abundance in nature Atomic Mass (u)

12C 98.93% 12
13C 1.07% 13.00335483521(23)

- Why does the atomic mass of 12C is 12.00 with no fractions?

- Carbon has 15 known isotopes, from 8C to 22C in nature. Why do we use only the two
isotopes above to calculate the average atomic mass?
Q3. When using Coulomb's law, increasing the charge on one particle by a factor of 2 while leaving
all other factors the same will:

a) cause the force to increase by a factor of 2

b) cause the force to increase by a factor of 4
c) cause the force to decrease by a factor of 2
d) cause the force to decrease by a factor of 4
e) cause the force to remain the same

Q4. Decreasing the charge on both particles by a factor of 2 while leaving all other factors the same
will:

a) cause the force to decrease by a factor of 4

b) cause the force to decrease by a factor of 2
c) cause the force to increase by a factor of 4
d) cause the force to increase by a factor of 2
e) cause the force to remain the same

Q5. The figure below shows that the number of neutrons in the nucleus of each atom is about the
same as the number of protons for elements with a small atomic number, and larger than the
number of protons for higher atomic numbers. WHY?
Q6. Although there are 98 elements that occur naturally, only 83 chemical elements are available to
make minerals. Explain why?

Q7. What are the eight most common elements in the average continental crust?

- Why does the oceanic crust have more Fe, Mg and Ca compared to the continental crust?

- What is the most common element in total Earth? Explain why.

- Using vol%, what are the three most common elements in the Earth’crust. Based on this,
what is better, to use vol% or wt%?

Q8. Draw an H2O molecule. Why does it have its characteristic shape?

- What kind of bond exists between the O and H atoms (within one water molecule)?

- How are separate H2O molecules bonded to each other in water and in ice?
Q9. Figure 3.15 shows that the effective radius of an element changes with change in the oxidation
state. Using the figure, find out the size of S in its uncharged state, in sulfate minerals, and in sulfide
minerals. Then explain the difference in the size of S in these different states.

Q10. Pauling (1960) devised a largely empirical relationship between the difference in
electronegativity between elements and the degree of ionic character produced between those
elements. Use the mathematical relationship below to calculate the percentage of ionic character in
SiO2, CaF2 and ZnS. The values of the electronegativities can be obtained from the table in the first
question.
2
Percent ionic character = 1 − 𝑒𝑒 −0.25(𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥−𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥) x 100