Читать книгу Earth Materials - John O'Brien - Страница 37

1  2.1 Atoms

2  2.2 The periodic table

3  2.3 Chemical bonds

4  2.4 Pauling's rules and coordination polyhedra

5  2.5 The chemical classification of minerals

If we zoom in on any portion of Earth, we will see that it is composed of progressively smaller entities. At very high magnification, we will be able to discern very small particles called atoms. Almost all Earth materials are composed of atoms which, in turn, strongly influence their material properties. Understanding the ways in which these basic chemical constituents combine to produce larger scale Earth materials is essential to understanding our planet.

In this chapter we will consider the fundamental chemical constituents that bond together to produce Earth materials such as minerals and rocks. We will discuss the nuclear and electron configurations of atoms and then discuss the role these play in determining both atomic and mineral properties and the conditions under which minerals form. This information will provide a basis for understanding how and why minerals, rocks and other Earth materials have the following characteristics:

1 They possess specific properties that characterize and distinguish them.

2 They provide benefits and hazards through their production, refinement and use.

3 They form in response to particular sets of environmental conditions and processes.

4 They record information about the conditions and processes that produce them.

5 They permit us to infer significant events in Earth's history.