Multiple choice

The element present in the largest amount in rocks and minerals is

  1. silicon

  2. carbon

  3. hydrogen

  4. gold

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Silicates are by far the largest group of minerals present rocks. Chemically, these minerals contain varying amounts of silicon and oxygen. It is easy to distinguish silicate minerals from other groups, but difficult to identify individual minerals within this group. None are completely opaque. Most are light in weight. The construction component of all silicates is the tetrahedron. A tetrahedon is a chemical structure where a silicon atom is joined by four oxygen atoms (SiO4).