Minerals

[ovidius]

I have very primitive question. Whats minerals?? Does the term minerals equal to the term inorganic compounds? Does it involve every state(gasseous, liquid..) or only solid of that compounds? I wonder if H2O or CO2 can be said to be mineral (maybe only when theyre solid yeah? )
So stop laughing and start explaining. Im anxious to know how many of you chemists can explain such a primitive question.

[www.webqc.org]

Originally Posted by ovidius

I have very primitive question. Whats minerals?? Does the term minerals equal to the term inorganic compounds? Does it involve every state(gasseous, liquid..) or only solid of that compounds? I wonder if H2O or CO2 can be said to be mineral (maybe only when theyre solid yeah? )
So stop laughing and start explaining. Im anxious to know how many of you chemists can explain such a primitive question.

Minerals are natural compounds formed through geological processes.
To be classified as a "true" mineral, a substance must be a solid and have a crystal structure.
That's why H2O and CO2 do not fall into this category.

[Borek]

What about amber?

[guanine]

I believe that amber is technically a liquid (a very viscus liquid) because it is dried tree sap and it doesn't have a crystalyn structure.