inorganic naturally occurring solids that have specific chemical compositions, an internal crystalline structure, and form through geologic processes.

physically and chemically distinctive.

building blocks of rocks and composititionally inorganic.

the basic building block of the elements.

smallest, electrically neutral assemblies of energy and matter that we know exist in the universe.

tiny charged particles.

neutralized as they crowd in around a central core of positively charged protons.

protons and neutrons

protons are +1 charge

neutrons are neutral

electrons have -1 charge

atoms with the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons and therefore different atomic masses.

contain different numbers of neutrons but the same number of protons. either stable or unstable. unstavle ones are those in which protons or neutrons are lost from nucleus.

defined by the number of protons in its nucleus.

oxygen has 8 protons, making that its atomic number.

electrically charged atom.

positively (cation) or negatively (anion) charged atoms.

protons and electrons are not balanced.

oxygen combined with silicon.

2nd most abundant element in crust.

oxygen is most abundant element in the crust, silicon is second.

iron is most abundant by mass for bulk earth.

Most rock-forming minerals are silicates:  Feldspars, 

Pyroxenes, Amphiboles, Quartz, Micas, Olivine. Some important non-silicates are:  

Calcite, Dolomite, Gypsum, oxides and sulfides 

basic building block of a crystal.

4 oxygen ions bonded to one silicon ion. -4 net charge.