Reef Chemistry Question of the Day #268 Gemstones in the Reef Tank?

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Reef Chemistry Question of the Day #268

Aside from differences in levels and types of trace impurities, three of the following four materials have the same basic chemical chemical composition, and one is different.

Which one has a different basic chemical composition?

A. Ruby
B. Sapphire
C. Emerald
D. Seachem Phosguard

Perhaps these pictures may help:

A.

B.

C.

D.

Good luck!












































.

 

[Js.Aqua.Project]

C

 

[CNDReef]

Wild guess but c

 

[Luno]

Wild guess at A ruby

 

[Maggie321]

Oh you, what a tricky clever way to get us to do some learning in this fins Saturday. C is my answer [emoji6]

 

[WVNed]

3 aluminum oxides and 1 aluminum cyclosilicate

C
emerald cause it's green

 

[Chuk]

Emerald

 

[MnFish1]

A. The ruby

Edit its the emerald c lol

 

[Jose Mayo]

C - Green Beryl

 

[Joe Batt]

C- The emerald, the others are all based around Aluminium Oxide Al2O3

 

[lapin]

"Be" perfectly clear its C

 

[MnFish1]

Am I hallucinating I thought the answer was posted

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

And the answer is....
Which one has a different basic chemical composition?

A. Ruby
B. Sapphire
C. Emerald
D. Seachem Phosguard

Ruby, sapphire, and Phosguard are all aluminum oxide, Al2O3.

The color differences between ruby and sapphire relate to trace metal impurities. Sapphire typically has iron, titanium, vanadium, copper. Rubies have more chromium.

Emerald is made of beryllium aluminum silicate (Be3Al2(SiO3)6). Traces of chromium and vanadium impurities give it the green color.

Happy reefing!

 

[mpnunley]

Reef Chemistry Question of the Day #268

Aside from differences in levels and types of trace impurities, three of the following four materials have the same basic chemical chemical composition, and one is different.

Which one has a different basic chemical composition?

A. Ruby
B. Sapphire
C. Emerald
D. Seachem Phosguard

Perhaps these pictures may help:

A.

B.

C.

D.

Good luck!












































.

Emerald

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Emerald

That is correct.