Final answer:
To find the density of a mineral, divide the object's mass by its volume. Density is a constant intensive property and crucial for understanding behaviors like sinking or floating.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question relates to the concept of density, which is a measure of how 'light' or 'heavy' an object is for its size. Density is the ratio of the mass of an object to its volume. This concept is not only fundamental in chemistry but also in physics, since it helps us understand why materials behave differently under certain conditions, such as sinking or floating in a fluid. Common units for density include grams per milliliter (g/mL), grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm³), and kilograms per cubic meter (kg/m³). The density of a substance is an intensive property, meaning that it is independent of the sample's size; it remains constant whether you have a small or large amount of the substance.
To calculate the density of a mineral or any substance, one would need to know the mass (in grams) and the volume (in milliliters or cubic centimeters). The mass is typically found by weighing the object, and the volume can be measured directly or calculated from dimensions if the object has a regular shape. The formula for determining density is density = mass / volume.