What is the Mohs scale?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. What is the Mohs scale?

The Big Idea

Some minerals are soft enough to scratch with a fingernail. Others are super hard! Scientists rank them on a special scale.

Mohs

Step one: Mohs. In 1812, German scientist Friedrich Mohs made a ranking of minerals by how hard they are. It runs from 1, soft talc, up to 10, diamond.

Scratching

Step two: Scratching. A harder mineral can scratch a softer one, but not the other way around. That's how the order was decided.

Handy Scale

Step three: Handy Scale. The scale is not evenly spaced, but it is a handy way to compare minerals. Quartz is a 7, and gypsum is a 2.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look! Talc is softest. Gypsum is soft. Quartz is hard. Diamond is hardest.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! Talc is the main ingredient of baby powder. Harder scratches softer. Diamond tops the scale. Made by Friedrich Mohs.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! Make a chart. List talc, gypsum, calcite, fluorite, and apatite. Then feldspar, quartz, topaz, corundum, and diamond. Put them in order from 1 to 10. Hang it near your rocks!

Outro

The Mohs scale, made in 1812 by Friedrich Mohs, ranks minerals by hardness from 1, soft talc, to 10, diamond. A harder mineral can scratch a softer one. Quartz is a 7 and gypsum is a 2. Science is amazing! Keep wondering and keep exploring! Share what you learned with someone at home, and see what they think! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!