About Curriculum

    Rocks and Minerals by UTH Rocks and Minerals by UTH    

Lesson 5: Physical Properties: Color

lesson image
Many Colors


Rocks and minerals may often be identified by one or more of their physical properties. Physical properties are characteristics of matter not involving a change in chemical composition (no change in its elements).

Physical properties include color, luster, streak, hardness, cleavage, fracture, crystal shape, diaphaneity (transparency), and fluorescence. We will learn about many of these properties over the coming weeks. The first physical property for study is color. Why are rocks and minerals different colors?

White light is made up of many colors. Prisms split white light into the individual colors.
We call the colors white light splits into, "Roy. G. Biv", to remember the order of the colors.

ROYGBIV

  • R: RED
  • O: ORANGE
  • Y: YELLOW
  • G: GREEN
  • B: BLUE
  • I: INDIGO
  • V: VIOLET

When white light hits objects, the objects absorb some of the colors and reflect others back at us. We don't see the colors the objects absorb. We do see the colors the objects reflect. For example, given a red mineral, red light reflects off the mineral and the other colors, such as blue, indigo, and violet, are absorbed by the mineral.

Some rocks and minerals are always the same color. For example, azurite is always blue. Other rocks and minerals are colored differently based on tiny amounts of the trace elements they contain. For example, ruby and sapphire are both corundum (Al2O3). However, red rubies contain the trace element chromium (Cr) while blue sapphires contain the trace elements iron (Fe) and titanium (Ti).

Rocks and minerals exist in a huge variety of colors. Take a look at additional examples below and recite aloud their colors and their names.








    Rocks and Minerals by UTH Rocks and Minerals by UTH    

Lesson 5: Physical Properties: Color

Directions

Study the lesson for one week.

Over the week:

  • Read the lesson.
  • Review the synopsis.
  • Recite aloud the vocabulary words and their definitions.
  • Study the rock and mineral of the week.
  • Complete the enrichment activities.
  • Study the review questions.

Synopsis

Rocks and minerals may be identified by one or more of their physical properties. Physical properties are characteristics of matter not involving a change in chemical composition (change in its elements). One identifying physical property of rocks and minerals is color.

Vocabulary

Physical Property: Characteristics of matter not involving a change in chemical composition.
Chemical Composition: The identities and relative numbers of the elements that make up any particular compound.
Color: A characteristic that is visually perceived - for example, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet.
Vitreous: Of or resembling glass.

Rock or Mineral of the Week

Overview
  • Painite is a red mineral named for British mineralogist Arthur C.D. Pain who discovered it, although he first thought it was a ruby.
  • Painite was once so rare, only 2 samples existed. Painite is now found only in Myanmar.
  • See a cut and polished version of Painite.

Physical Characteristics
  • Color: Shades of Orange-Brown-Red
  • Hardness: 8.0
  • Luster: Vitreous (glass-like)
  • Cleavage: None
  • Streak: White
  • Tenacity: Brittle

Locations
  • Myanmar

Interesting Facts
  • Panite is rare: Originally, only 2 specimens existed, but many more have been found recently.
  • Panite has hexagonal crystals (6-sided).

Enrichment

Activity 1: Narrate the Lesson

  • After reading or listening to the lesson, narrate the lesson aloud using your own words.

Activity 2: Can You Find It?

Painite's chemical composition is CaZrAl9(BO3)O15. Find the following elements on the periodic table:

  • Calcium (Ca)
  • Zirconium (Zr)
  • Aluminum (Al)
  • Boron (B)
  • Oxygen (O)
  • In which group and period is Zirconium (Zr)?

Activity 3: Map the Lesson

  • Painite is found in Myanmar. Find Myanmar on the map of Asia.
  • Which other countries border Myanmar?
  • What is another name for Myanmar?

Activity 4: Take a Nature Walk

  • Embark on a nature walk.
  • Collect one rock or mineral specimen.
  • Use the gathered specimen to create the field book entry.

Activity 5: Complete a Field Book Entry   

After your nature walk, complete page 6 in 'Fifth Grade Science Rocks and Minerals Notebook Pages.'

Review

Question 1

Is color a physical property or a chemical property?
1 / 6

Answer 1

Color is a physical property, for it does not involve a change in chemical composition.
1 / 6

Question 2

What do prisms do to visible light shining through them?
2 / 6

Answer 2

Prisms split white light into individual colors.
2 / 6

Question 3

For what does Roy G. Biv stand?
3 / 6

Answer 3

Roy G. Biv stands for the color components of visible light - red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet.
3 / 6

Question 4

Describe something about painite (CaZrAl9(BO3)O15).
4 / 6

Answer 4

Painite is a rare reddish mineral found in Myanmar.
4 / 6

Question 5

Is painite (CaZrAl9(BO3)O15) a compound?
5 / 6

Answer 5

Yes, painite (CaZrAl9(BO3)O15) is a compound containing more than one type of element.
5 / 6

Question 6

How many different elements does painite (CaZrAl9(BO3)O15) contain?
6 / 6

Answer 6

Painite (CaZrAl9(BO3)O15) contains five types of elements - Calcium (Ca), Zirconium (Zr), Aluminum (Al), Boron (B), and Oxygen (O).
6 / 6

  1. Is color a physical property or a chemical property? Color is a physical property, for it does not involve a change in chemical composition.
  2. What do prisms do to visible light shining through them? Prisms split white light into individual colors.
  3. For what does Roy G. Biv stand? Roy G. Biv stands for the color components of visible light - red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet.
  4. Describe something about painite (CaZrAl9(BO3)O15). Painite is a rare reddish mineral found in Myanmar.
  5. Is painite (CaZrAl9(BO3)O15) a compound? Yes, painite (CaZrAl9(BO3)O15) is a compound containing more than one type of element.
  6. How many different elements does painite (CaZrAl9(BO3)O15) contain? Painite (CaZrAl9(BO3)O15) contains five types of elements - Calcium (Ca), Zirconium (Zr), Aluminum (Al), Boron (B), and Oxygen (O).

References

  1. 'Physical property.' Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_property. n.p.
  2. 'Painite.' Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Painite. n.p.
  3. Cited Physical Properties. Geology.com. geology.com/rocks. n.p.

Contact  Privacy Policy  Terms of Use © 2023 Under The Home Online Homeschool Curriculum
Contact      Privacy      Terms
youtube icon twitter icon pinterest icon facebook icon
© 2023 Under The Home