Final answer:
The claim that a mineral can exist as a solid, liquid, or gas is false because minerals are naturally occurring solids with a definite chemical structure and do not exist in liquid or gaseous forms under normal Earth surface conditions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that a mineral, like many other types of matter, may exist as a solid, liquid, or gas is false. While it is true that matter typically exists in one of three states - solid, liquid, or gas - minerals specifically are naturally occurring, solid chemical compounds and, under standard conditions on Earth's surface, do not exist in liquid or gaseous forms. They have a specific chemical composition and crystal structure.
As a solid, a mineral has a definite shape and volume. If heated to extreme temperatures, some minerals may melt and become a liquid, and at even higher temperatures, they may vaporize into a gas. However, this is generally not the case under normal conditions.
The three states of matter include solids, which have a fixed shape and volume, liquids, which have a definite volume but take the shape of their containers, and gases, which fill their containers completely and have neither a definite shape nor volume. These physical properties are dictated by the arrangement and behavior of molecules within the substance.