Which piece of laboratory equipment would be used to determine the elements contained within mineral samples?

• A. Spectrograph
• B. Chromatograph
• C. Microscope
• D. Mass spectrometer

Answer: (A)

Identifying which elements are in a mineral relies on reading how atoms emit or absorb light at specific wavelengths. A spectrograph does exactly that by producing a spectrum where each element leaves a unique set of lines. By comparing the observed lines to known references, you can determine which elements are present in the sample.

A chromatograph separates components of a mixture but doesn’t by itself reveal elemental identities. A microscope shows structure and morphology, not elemental composition. A mass spectrometer can also determine elements and their isotopes, but for straightforward identification of which elements are in a mineral, the spectral lines produced by a spectrograph provide a direct and classic approach.