The Mohs scale of mineral hardness is a qualitative ordinal scale that characterizes the scratch resistance of various minerals through the ability of a harder material to scratch a softer material. It was created by the German geologist and mineralogist Friedrich Mohs in 1812, and is one of several several definitions of hardness in materials science.
The Mohs scale has ten levels of base materials, numbered from one to ten in increasing order of hardness. Level one is defined as talc, level two as gypsum, level three as calcite, level four as fluorite, level five as apatite, level six as feldspar, level seven as quartz, level eight as topaz, level nine as corundum, and level ten as diamond. The hardness of each material is defined relative to a reference standard, quartz, which has a hardness value on the scale of seven. Thus, a material which is harder than quartz, such as topaz or diamond, will have a higher Mohs hardness value. The hardness of a material can be determined by testing it against other materials of known hardness; if its hardness is greater than the reference material, it is harder than the reference material.
For example, if a material is scratched by talc but not by gypsum, it has a hardness of two on the Mohs scale. The reference material for determining hardness is usually matched to the material being tested (e.g. for testing the hardness of steel, a steel reference material is typically used). A variety of instruments have been developed for hardness testing, and the most prominent is the sclerometer.
The Mohs scale is widely used in the field of materials science, and is particularly useful for making comparisons between different minerals (or even between different minerals and man-made materials). It is also commonly used as a quick reference when determining the physical properties of a material. For example, a piece of jewelry made of diamond is much more resistant to scratching than a piece of jewelry made of turquoise, which has a Mohs hardness of four.
When selecting a material for a specific application, hardness is often considered to be an important property. Different materials have different uses, and the hardness of a material can affect its suitability for certain applications. For example, if a material is too hard, it may be difficult to fabricate or shape. On the other hand, if a material is too soft, it may not be able to withstand wear and tear for long periods of time.
The Mohs scale is an important tool for materials science, as it provides a way to make quick, qualitative comparisons between different materials. While its use has been limited to comparison of natural materials, it is useful in making decisions about which materials to select for an application.