The Mohs scale of hardness is a relative scale that ranks minerals based on their ability to scratch one another. It assigns a number from 1 (softest) to 10 (hardest) to ten reference minerals. A mineral with a higher number can scratch any mineral with an equal or lower number.
Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The question asks to identify which of the four given minerals is the hardest, according to the Mohs scale.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
We need to compare the hardness values of the minerals listed:
Talc: This is the softest mineral on the scale, with a hardness of 1.
Gypsum: This mineral has a hardness of 2, meaning it can scratch talc.
Quartz: This is a relatively hard mineral with a hardness of 7. It can scratch most common minerals.
Diamond: This is the hardest known natural mineral and is at the top of the Mohs scale with a hardness of 10.
By comparing these values, it is clear that Diamond has the highest hardness.
Step 3: Final Answer:
Therefore, Diamond exhibits the highest hardness on the Mohs scale.