Arrange the following substances in their order of increasing hardness

Arrange the following substances in their order of increasing hardness :

  1. Gypsum
  2. Topaz
  3. Fluorite
  4. Feldspar

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

4-3-2-1
1-3-4-2
3-4-2-1
1-4-3-2
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2016
The correct answer is B) 1-3-4-2.
– The hardness of minerals is commonly measured using the Mohs Hardness Scale, which ranks minerals from 1 (softest) to 10 (hardest) based on their ability to scratch one another.
– The Mohs scale values for the given substances are:
– Gypsum: Mohs Hardness = 2
– Topaz: Mohs Hardness = 8
– Fluorite: Mohs Hardness = 4
– Feldspar (usually Orthoclase): Mohs Hardness = 6
– Arranging these substances in order of increasing hardness (from softest to hardest):
1. Gypsum (2)
2. Fluorite (4)
3. Feldspar (6)
4. Topaz (8)
– The correct order using the list numbers is 1-3-4-2.
The full Mohs scale is: 1. Talc, 2. Gypsum, 3. Calcite, 4. Fluorite, 5. Apatite, 6. Feldspar, 7. Quartz, 8. Topaz, 9. Corundum, 10. Diamond. Each mineral on the scale can scratch the ones below it. For example, Fluorite (4) can scratch Gypsum (2) and Calcite (3), but cannot scratch Apatite (5) or Feldspar (6).