What is the softest mineral on the Mohs hardness scale?
AnswerTalc
Talc ranks 1, the bottom of the Mohs scale; gypsum is 2.
Science · Facts & stats
Soft facts & stats
7 fact-checked facts about softness and hardness of materials, each with the reason behind it. 5 more are in today's round and join this page after it closes.
The basics
What is the 'lead' in a pencil actually made of?
AnswerGraphite mixed with clay
Pencil cores are a mix of graphite and clay, not the metal lead.
Going deeper
What is 'soft water'?
AnswerWater low in dissolved calcium and magnesium
Hard water carries calcium and magnesium minerals; soft water has little, so soap lathers easily.
What is a soft-shell crab?
AnswerA crab that has recently molted its old shell
Crabs shed their shells to grow, and for a short time the new shell is soft.
What property does the Mohs scale compare minerals by?
AnswerScratch resistance
On the Mohs scale, a mineral can scratch any mineral with a lower number.
Expert level
In woodworking, 'softwood' comes from which kind of trees?
AnswerConifers such as pine and spruce
Softwood and hardwood are botanical terms: softwoods come from conifers, hardwoods from flowering trees.
Balsa, one of the lightest and softest woods, is classified as what?
AnswerA hardwood
Balsa comes from a flowering tree, so it counts as a hardwood despite being very soft.
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