What does it mean to be crystalline? Choose the best answer.

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Question restatement: What does it mean to be crystalline? Choose the best answer.

Option 1: 'The atoms and molecules inside the mineral are loosely held together and are in the form of a plasma.' This describes a state of matter (plasma) where electrons are not bound to atoms, which is not characteristic of crystalline solids. Crystals feature well-defined, solid structures, not loose, ionized plasmas.

Option 2: 'The atoms and molecules inside the mineral are arranged in an ordered, repeating, geometric fashion.' This captures the essence of crystallinity: a repeating, orderly lattice that extends in three dimensions, giving crystals their shapes and symmetry. This is the core defining property of crystalline materials.

Option 3: 'The atoms and molecules inside the mineral are randomly arranged.' A random arrangement would correspond to an amorphous solid, not a crystalline one. Crystallinity requires long-range order, which this option explicitly denies.

Option 4: 'The mineral isn't technically a solid if it is crystalline, due to the fact that crystals, by nature, are not technically solid.' This is incorrect because crystalline materials are solids with rigid, definite shape and volume. The statement contradicts the fundamental definition of a crystal as a solid with a periodic atomic arrangement.

In summary, option 2 uniquely aligns with the scientifically accepted definition of a crystalline substance, while options 1, 3, and 4 describe conditions or misconceptions that do not apply to crystalline minerals.

FA25: GEOL-103 Sec 02 - Earth Systems Quiz 1.1: Minerals (Due 9/23)

What does it mean to be crystalline? Choose the best answer.

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