Question

Classify Water is an inorganic substance that is formed by natural processes on Earth. It has a unique composition. Sometimes water is a mineral, and other times it is not. Explain.

A) Water is a mineral due to its inorganic nature and unique composition.
B) Water is not a mineral because it is formed by biological processes.
C) Water is not a mineral because it does not have a unique composition.
D) Water is a mineral when found in its crystalline form but not in its liquid state.

Answer 1

Water is considered a mineral when in its solid, crystalline form such as ice, but not when it is a liquid, because minerals must be naturally occurring, inorganic solids with a definite chemical composition and crystal structure. The correct option is (D).

Step-by-step explanation:

To classify whether water is a mineral, we must look at the definition of a mineral. A mineral is defined as a naturally occurring, inorganic solid with a definite chemical composition and a characteristic crystalline structure.

Therefore, the answer to the question is option D) Water is a mineral when found in its crystalline form but not in its liquid state.

In its solid form, such as ice, water meets the criteria of being naturally occurring, having a definite chemical composition , and possessing a characteristic crystalline structure.