Mineral vs. Element — What's the Difference?

Minerals have an ordered atomic arrangement.

An element is a substance composed of identical atoms.

They are typically homogeneous substances.

Elements cannot be broken down into simpler substances.

In geology and mineralogy, a mineral or mineral species is, broadly speaking, a solid chemical compound with a fairly well-defined chemical composition and a specific crystal structure that occurs naturally in pure form.The geological definition of mineral normally excludes compounds that occur only in living beings. However some minerals are often biogenic (such as calcite) or are organic compounds in the sense of chemistry (such as mellite).

Each element has a unique atomic number.

A naturally occurring, homogeneous inorganic solid substance having a definite chemical composition and characteristic crystalline structure, color, and hardness.

Elements can exist in different forms, called allotropes.

An element, such as gold or silver.

A fundamental, essential, or irreducible constituent of a composite entity.

An organic derivative, such as coal or petroleum.

Elements The basic assumptions or principles of a subject.

A substance, such as stone, sand, salt, or coal, that is extracted or obtained from the ground or water and used in economic activities.

A member of a set.

A substance that is neither animal nor vegetable; inorganic matter.

A point, line, or plane.

An inorganic element, such as calcium, iron, potassium, sodium, or zinc, that is essential to the nutrition of humans, animals, and plants.

A part of a geometric configuration, such as an angle in a triangle.

An ore.

The generatrix of a geometric figure.

Minerals Mineral water.

Any of the terms in the rectangular array of terms that constitute a matrix or determinant.

A soft drink.

Chemistry & Physics A substance composed of atoms having an identical number of protons in each nucleus. Elements cannot be reduced to simpler substances by normal chemical means. See Periodic Table.

Of or relating to minerals

One of four substances, earth, air, fire, or water, formerly regarded as a fundamental constituent of the universe.

Impregnated with minerals.

(Electricity)The resistance wire in an electrical appliance such as a heater or an oven.

(geology) Any naturally occurring inorganic material that has a (more or less) definite chemical composition and characteristic physical properties.

Elements The forces that constitute the weather, especially severe or inclement weather:outside paint that had been damaged by the elements.

Any inorganic material (as distinguished from animal or vegetable).

An environment naturally suited to or associated with an individual:He is in his element when traveling. The business world is her element.

(nutrition) Any inorganic element that is essential to nutrition; a dietary mineral.

A distinct group within a larger community:the dissident element on campus.

(British) Mineral water.

A ground unit in an air force comparable to a platoon.

A soft drink, particularly a single serve bottle or can.

A unit of an air force equal to two or three aircraft.

(obsolete) A mine or mineral deposit.

Elements The bread and wine of the Eucharist.

(obsolete) A poisonous or dangerous substance.

One of the simplest or essential parts or principles of which anything consists, or upon which the constitution or fundamental powers of anything are based.

Of, related to, or containing minerals

(chemistry) Any one of the simplest chemical substances that cannot be decomposed in a chemical reaction or by any chemical means and made up of atoms all having the same number of protons.

An inorganic species or substance occurring in nature, having a definite chemical composition and usually a distinct crystalline form. Rocks, except certain glassy igneous forms, are either simple minerals or aggregates of minerals.

One of the four basic building blocks of matter in theories of ancient philosophers and alchemists: water, earth, fire, and air.

A mine.

A basic, simple substance out of which something is made, raw material.

Anything which is neither animal nor vegetable, as in the most general classification of things into three kingdoms (animal, vegetable, and mineral).

(legal) A required aspect or component of a cause of action. A deed is regarded as a violation of law only if each element can be proved.

Of or pertaining to minerals; consisting of a mineral or of minerals; as, a mineral substance.

(set theory) One of the objects in a set.

Impregnated with minerals; as, mineral waters.

(mathematics) One of the entries of a matrix.

Solid homogeneous inorganic substances occurring in nature having a definite chemical composition

Any of the teeth of a zip fastener.

Relating to minerals;

A small part of the whole.

Of or containing or derived from minerals;

A small but present amount of a quality, a hint.

Composed of matter other than plant or animal;

A factor, one of the conditions contributing to a result.

A mineral is a naturally occurring inorganic solid.

(obsolete) The sky.

Minerals possess a definite chemical structure.

(obsolete) Any one of the heavenly spheres believed to carry the celestial bodies.

Minerals are identified through various physical properties.

Atmospheric forces such as strong winds and rains.

A place or state of being that an individual or object is best suited to.

The bread and wine taken at Holy Communion.

A group of people within a larger group having a particular common characteristic.

(in the plural only) The basic principles of a field of knowledge, basics, fundamentals, rudiments.

A component in electrical equipment, often in the form of a coil, having a high resistance, thereby generating heat when a current is passed through it.

(mathematics) An infinitesimal interval of a quantity, a differential.

(astronomy) An orbital element; one of the parameters needed to uniquely specify a particular orbit.

(computing) One of the conceptual objects in a markup language, usually represented in text by tags.

(obsolete) To compound of elements.

(obsolete) To constitute and be the elements of.

One of the simplest or essential parts or principles of which anything consists, or upon which the constitution or fundamental powers of anything are based.

One of the ultimate, undecomposable constituents of any kind of matter. Specifically: (Chem.) A substance which cannot be decomposed into different kinds of matter by any means at present employed; as, the elements of water are oxygen and hydrogen.

One of the ultimate parts which are variously combined in anything; as, letters are the elements of written language; hence, also, a simple portion of that which is complex, as a shaft, lever, wheel, or any simple part in a machine; one of the essential ingredients of any mixture; a constituent part; as, quartz, feldspar, and mica are the elements of granite.

One out of several parts combined in a system of aggregation, when each is of the nature of the whole; as, a single cell is an element of the honeycomb.

One of the simplest essential parts, more commonly called cells, of which animal and vegetable organisms, or their tissues and organs, are composed.

An infinitesimal part of anything of the same nature as the entire magnitude considered; as, in a solid an element may be the infinitesimal portion between any two planes that are separated an indefinitely small distance. In the calculus, element is sometimes used as synonymous with differential.

One of the necessary data or values upon which a system of calculations depends, or general conclusions are based; as, the elements of a planet's orbit.

The simplest or fundamental principles of any system in philosophy, science, or art; rudiments; as, the elements of geometry, or of music.

Any outline or sketch, regarded as containing the fundamental ideas or features of the thing in question; as, the elements of a plan.

One of the simple substances, as supposed by the ancient philosophers; one of the imaginary principles of matter.

The conditions and movements of the air.

The whole material composing the world.

The bread and wine used in the eucharist or Lord's supper.

To compound of elements or first principles.

To constitute; to make up with elements.

An abstract part of something;

Any of the more than 100 known substances (of which 92 occur naturally) that cannot be separated into simpler substances and that singly or in combination constitute all matter

An artifact that is one of the individual parts of which a composite entity is made up; especially a part that can be separated from or attached to a system;

One of four substances thought in ancient and medieval cosmology to constitute the physical universe;

The most favorable environment for a plant or animal;

The situation in which you are happiest and most effective;

A straight line that generates a cylinder or cone

Elements combine to form compounds.

Primarily, but they can be in meteorites too.

Yes, minerals can contain one or more elements.

No, minerals can be compounds.

Yes, some elements can be synthesized.

No, minerals are inorganic by definition.

As of now, 118 elements are recognized.

Yes, some minerals are vital for biological processes.

Based on properties like luster, hardness, etc.

No, elements and minerals are distinct.

Yes, each element has a place in the periodic table.

Yes, minerals are defined as solids.

Yes, elements can combine to form minerals.

Yes, like mercury (liquid) and helium (gas).

Yes, like carbon with graphite and diamond.

Yes, minerals are the building blocks of rocks.