Question

_____ is an example of a non-metallic mineral.
A.Aluminum
B.Tin
C.Uranium
D.Nitrate

Answer 1

Hint:Minerals are defined as the homogeneous solid substance which occur naturally under different geographical conditions and are usually formed by inorganic processes that have highly ordered atomic arrangement and definite chemical composition.

Complete answer:
Minerals can be classified as metallic and non-metallic based on whether metal is present or not. As the name suggests, metallic minerals are the ones which contain metallic elements in them and possess good conductivity of both heat and electricity. They possess shine and are not easily breakable. On the other hand, non-metallic minerals do not contain metal substance in them and are classified as a special class of chemical substances which do not produce any new product when it is melted.
The non-metallic minerals lack metallic characteristics, such as malleability, ductility, shine or luster and are often bad conductors of heat and electricity. Some of the examples of non-metallic minerals are sand, limestone, clay, nitrate, etc. and they find extreme applications in construction materials, decorative products after undergoing extreme processes which involve heating, grinding, mixing, cutting, etc.
The nitrates consist of a triangular group which is a polyatomic ion and resembles closely to a group of carbonates and hence, both of these minerals appear similar to each other. The group in nitrates is formed from three strong nitrogen-oxygen bonds, which is stronger than any other bond present in the mineral and because of this strong bond, nitrates do not decompose easily when come in contact with acids.In Chemical industries, nitrates are produced from nitric acid and naturally, can be found in deposits of nitratine, which is a prime source of sodium nitrate.

Hence, the correct answer is option (D).

Note:Sodium Nitrate, an example of non-metallic mineral, which contains the polyatomic ion is found in the form of rock salt, gypsum, etc. in Chile where the deposits are the primary source of nitrate around the world. It has its applications ranging from agricultural use to manufacturing of various chemical compounds.