To unknown mineral samples a and b are rubbed against each other mineral a scratches mineral b what can you infer about the minerals

Question

Mineral a is harder than mineral b mineral b is harder than mineral a mineral a is more dense than mineral b mineral b is more dense than mineral a

Answer 1

When mineral A scratches mineral B, it indicates that mineral A is harder than mineral B. This observation is based on the principle of hardness, often assessed using the Mohs scale of hardness, which states that if one mineral can scratch another, it is harder.

The information about density cannot be inferred from the ability to scratch, as hardness and density are different physical properties. Thus, the correct inference is:

Mineral A is harder than mineral B.