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Correct Answer: sulfides.
the correct answer to the question is:
sulfides.
to understand why sulfides are the correct answer, it is essential to know what constitutes a sulfide mineral. sulfides are a group of minerals that consist of one or more metals combined with sulfur. the chemical formula typically reflects this combination, with sulfur represented as s (sulfur atom) and the metal symbol preceding it. for example, pyrite, known as fool's gold, is an iron sulfide with the chemical formula fes2.
in contrast, other mineral groups mentioned in the question have different compositions:
- sulfates are minerals that contain sulfur in the form of the sulfate ion (so4) combined with metal ions. in sulfates, each sulfate ion is surrounded by four oxygen atoms, which is fundamentally different from the simple metal-sulfur combination found in sulfides.
- halides consist of a halogen element (such as fluorine, chlorine, bromine, or iodine) combined with one or more metals. these do not contain sulfur.
- carbonates are characterized by the presence of carbonate ions (co3), consisting of one carbon atom surrounded by three oxygen atoms, again excluding sulfur in their basic form.
therefore, when identifying minerals made of a metal combined with sulfur, the correct classification is sulfides, not sulfates, halides, or carbonates. pyrite (fes2) serves as a prime example of a sulfide mineral, where sulfur is directly bonded with a metal, specifically iron in this case, which distinguishes it from minerals belonging to the other groups mentioned.
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