Talc

High school (ages 12+)
Science & Technology

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/talc

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the chemical composition?Hydrated magnesium silicate (Mg₃Si₄O₁₀(OH)₂)
2. What is the crystal system?Monoclinic
3. What is talc and why is it so soft?Talc is a mineral made of magnesium, silicon, and oxygen. Its special layered crystal structure lets the layers slide easily, making it the softest mineral on the Mohs scale.
4. How does talc form in the Earth?Talc forms when magnesium-rich rocks like serpentinites change under heat, pressure, and water. This low‑grade metamorphism turns the rocks into talc crystals.

Phyllosilicate: A silicate mineral characterized by a layered crystal structure, like mica and talc.
Van der Waals Forces: Weak intermolecular forces that arise from temporary fluctuations in electron distribution.
Excipient: An inactive substance used as a vehicle or medium for a drug or other active ingredient.
Hydrophobicity: The property of repelling water; being insoluble or immiscible with water.