On the Mohs hardness scale, which mineral is the softest?

Prepare for the Pre-Clinic II Exam with our study guide, featuring multiple choice questions, flashcards, hints, and explanations. Get ready to ace your exam!

Multiple Choice

On the Mohs hardness scale, which mineral is the softest?

Explanation:
On the Mohs hardness scale, scratch resistance determines how soft or hard a mineral is. The scale goes from 1 (softest) to 10 (hardest). Among these minerals, talc has the lowest hardness value, 1, which makes it the softest. Because it’s so soft, it can be easily scratched by common materials such as a fingernail (roughly 2.5 on the scale). The other minerals listed—gypsum, calcite, and fluorite—have higher hardness values (2, 3, and 4), so they are harder than talc and not the softest.

On the Mohs hardness scale, scratch resistance determines how soft or hard a mineral is. The scale goes from 1 (softest) to 10 (hardest). Among these minerals, talc has the lowest hardness value, 1, which makes it the softest. Because it’s so soft, it can be easily scratched by common materials such as a fingernail (roughly 2.5 on the scale). The other minerals listed—gypsum, calcite, and fluorite—have higher hardness values (2, 3, and 4), so they are harder than talc and not the softest.

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