Minerals and Rocks UnitWeek 17

Directions1.Prepare your desk for science.2.Use voice level 0 (no voice) to look at

notebook pg. 49 & 50 and think about what minerals you think you can identify so far.

Targets & Warm UpTargets:•Students will use physical properties to identify minerals.

Warm Up: Water & Weather Unit test review

Test Review

Homework

Subject Homework Due DateScience Return signed test

Minerals QuizWednesday

1

2

3

4

5

6

Hardness• How to test for hardness:

– A fingernail has a hardness of 2.– A copper penny has a hardness of 3.– The paperclip has a hardness of 5.

Scratched by a fingernail?

Scratched by a penny?

Scratched by a paperclip?

Soft yes yes yesMedium no yes yes

Hard no no yes or no

Physical vs. Chemical Properties

To identify a mineral, scientists test some of its physical properties. A physical property is a characteristic of a substance that can be observed without changing the substance

A chemical property is a characteristic of a material that become evident when the material undergoes a chemical reaction or chemical change.

The Acid TestWhat is the acid test?• You can test minerals by putting a small amount of acid on a

mineral that you are trying to identify.• Minerals that have calcium carbonate (CaCO3) will react when

an acid is added to it. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is released and the mineral fizzes.

What the acid test tells us:• If the mineral fizzes, then the mineral contains calcium

carbonate.• If the mineral does not fizz, then the mineral does not contain

calcium carbonate.

The Acid Test

Minerals that react

to acid

CaCO3 = calcium

carbonate

The Acid Test Video

Video 1: Acid test & granite rock (pink and white feldspar, gray quartz, and some black mica)

Video 2: Acid test & calcite

Experiment Wrap UpUsing what you recorded from your observations

and tests, can you identify all 6 minerals?

Reflection Questions

• How do scientists identify unknown minerals?

Targets (Revisited)

Targets:• Students will use physical properties to

identify minerals.