Asked by Sarah Fruchtman on Jul 16, 2024

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The mineral halite has cube-shaped crystals because:

A) there are no planes along which the mineral can break
B) cubes are the most common way two tetrahedron can join
C) of the arrangement of atoms in the crystal lattice
D) halite is soluble in water

Crystal Lattice

A symmetrical three-dimensional arrangement of atoms inside a crystal.

Halite

A salt mineral (NaCl) generally formed by the evaporation of water; cleaves into cubes and has a distinctive salty taste.

Tetrahedron

A four-sided pyramid, as in a silica tetrahedron.

  • Familiarize oneself with the idea of crystal structure and its relevance to the study of minerals.
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SB
Simarjeet Brar kotlaJul 18, 2024
Final Answer :
C
Explanation :
Halite, which is essentially rock salt (NaCl), forms cube-shaped crystals due to the arrangement of sodium and chlorine atoms in its crystal lattice. This arrangement leads to the cubic geometry of its crystals.