What is a solid chemical compound with a specific and regular atomic structure called?

Prepare for the Mining Engineering Board Exam with our quiz. Practice with interactive questions and detailed explanations to ensure you're ready for success.

A solid chemical compound with a specific and regular atomic structure is referred to as a mineral. Minerals are naturally occurring inorganic substances that possess a crystalline structure, which means their atoms are arranged in a highly ordered and repeating pattern. This crystal structure is indicative of the mineral's physical properties, such as hardness, cleavage, and specific gravity.

Minerals typically possess a defined chemical composition, which can be represented by a chemical formula. For instance, quartz is a mineral made up of silicon dioxide (SiO2) and exhibits a characteristic crystalline form.

The term "stone" generally refers to a rock or material used in construction and does not imply a specific atomic arrangement. While "element" refers to pure substances consisting of only one type of atom, they do not necessarily have a regular atomic structure as a solid compound does. "Compound" is broader and can refer to any chemical substance formed from two or more elements, but it doesn't specifically denote the ordered crystal structure characteristic of minerals. Therefore, the most accurate term for a solid with a specific and regular atomic structure is mineral.

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