The primary element in the mineral commonly called fool's gold is which element?

The primary element in the mineral commonly called fool's gold is which element?

• A. Nickel
• B. Copper
• C. Iron
• D. Zinc

Answer: (C)

Fool’s gold is pyrite, which has the chemical formula FeS2. That makes iron the defining element of the mineral, so it is considered the primary element. While sulfur contributes most of the mass in FeS2, the mineral’s identity and name come from iron, the metal that characterizes pyrite. The other metals listed—nickel, copper, and zinc—do not define this mineral and appear in different minerals with different compositions, even though some can have a similar color.

Fool’s gold is pyrite, which has the chemical formula FeS2. That makes iron the defining element of the mineral, so it is considered the primary element. While sulfur contributes most of the mass in FeS2, the mineral’s identity and name come from iron, the metal that characterizes pyrite. The other metals listed—nickel, copper, and zinc—do not define this mineral and appear in different minerals with different compositions, even though some can have a similar color.