All 'minerals' contain 'salts', but not vice-versa; am I right?
Hi,
A salt is basically the combinaition of an anion and a cation, linked by a ionic bond. For example, Na+ with Cl- or Ca2+ with 2 Cl-. Salt formation respects the rule of Pauling : charges are shared bteween cations and anions, so you find the same number of + and -, in a salt. But a salt can also involve an organic molecule, like malate or ATP, which interacts with anions (malate) or cations (ATP).
Minerals are much more complex : it's an association of ions, linked by the same bond observed in salts, a ionic bond, but, you can find different anions and cations in the same mineral. This complex association is organised in a tri-dimensional pattern called the "lattice"; like the seven Bravais lattices. It finally forms a crystal, from the greek "crustallos" for "solid jelly".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crystal_structure
Finally, why is there salt in minerals, and not the contrary ? A mineral can only be formed by two entities, like Na+ and Cl-, the halite (table salt), in a cubic lettice, but it is generally composed by many different ions, like the muscovite, KAl3Si3O10 (OH,F)2, in the monoclinic lettice. WHEREAS, a salt is ALWAYS composed by 2 entities, an anion and a cation, whatever their inorganic or organic nature, and may not form a crystaline structure.
I hope it helped.
Regards.
Varathanrajan Sabareesh, there are some quantitative and qualitative difference between minerals and salt. Minerals may contain ~98% salt but not all salts have minerals in such quantity or even may not have minerals.
"Mineral" is a geological term used for compounds (in rare cases even elements) that have formed naturally during history of the Earth. "Salt" is a chemical term used for ionic compounds. They may be naturally occurring or synthetic compounds. They must not necessarily be inorganic substances like NaCl or CuSO4 that sometimes may be found as mineral. However, inorganic salts are not generally found as minerals; most of them are not. Organic substances are very often salts, too. Examples in the biological laboratory are sodium citrate, guanidinium thiocyanate and of course all the salts of organic acids in energy metabolism.
Hi,
A salt is basically the combinaition of an anion and a cation, linked by a ionic bond. For example, Na+ with Cl- or Ca2+ with 2 Cl-. Salt formation respects the rule of Pauling : charges are shared bteween cations and anions, so you find the same number of + and -, in a salt. But a salt can also involve an organic molecule, like malate or ATP, which interacts with anions (malate) or cations (ATP).
Minerals are much more complex : it's an association of ions, linked by the same bond observed in salts, a ionic bond, but, you can find different anions and cations in the same mineral. This complex association is organised in a tri-dimensional pattern called the "lattice"; like the seven Bravais lattices. It finally forms a crystal, from the greek "crustallos" for "solid jelly".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crystal_structure
Finally, why is there salt in minerals, and not the contrary ? A mineral can only be formed by two entities, like Na+ and Cl-, the halite (table salt), in a cubic lettice, but it is generally composed by many different ions, like the muscovite, KAl3Si3O10 (OH,F)2, in the monoclinic lettice. WHEREAS, a salt is ALWAYS composed by 2 entities, an anion and a cation, whatever their inorganic or organic nature, and may not form a crystaline structure.
I hope it helped.
Regards.
Thanks to everyone, who have answered for my query. All these answers have really clarified my thoughts.
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