Question

Litharge is a mineral of:
  (A) Magnesium
  (B) Lithium
  (C) Lead
  (D) Zinc

Answer 1

Hint: The answer is a heavy metal and is a denser material and the three of these metal isotopes are usually endpoints of nuclear decay chains of heavier elements. It is widely used for pigments, crystal glasses, batteries etc.

Complete step by step solution:
-Litharge or lithargite is a mineral form of lead (II) oxide ($PbO$ ).It is one of the natural mineral forms of lead (II)oxide. In lead monoxide, the lead is in +2 oxidation state.
-Litharge is also called as alpha lead monoxide and it is a reddish yellow or red solid and is stable at temperatures below 488${}^\circ C$.
-Litharge is formed from the oxidation of galena ores and it is a secondary mineral. Litharge forms as encrustations and coatings, with an internal tetragonal crystal structure.
-Litharge is dimorphous with the orthorhombic form massicot. As we mentioned the empirical formula of litharge is $PbO$ and has a molecular weight of 223.20 gram. Also, the chemical composition is given as 92.83$%$ of lead and 7.17$%$ of oxygen.
-The lead monoxide ($PbO$) can be changed from litharge to massicot or vice versa by controlled cooling and heating.
-Litharge can react with acids to form $P{{b}^{2+}}$and with bases to form plumbate (II) and hence litharge acts as amphoteric in nature.
From the above discussions, it’s clear that litharge is the mineral of lead.

Therefore, the answer is option (C) Lead.

Additional information:
Litharge is a most important commercial compound of lead and used in several industries such as lead-acid storage batteries, in high-quality glassware, in oil refining etc.

Note: There might be confusion among the options. The major mineral of lithium is pegmatite and lepidolite, and for magnesium the important mineral is magnesite. The mineral of zinc includes sphalerite also known as zinc blende and zinc sulfide mineral. Also, the difference between litharge and massicot should be noted.