Question

use the text to compare and contrast garnets and rubies. how can one distinguish a ruby from a garnet? although both are beautiful gemstones that are often red in color, there are key differences between them. rubies are always a shade of red, whereas garnets, though usually red, can also come in orange, yellow, green, and purple. garnets are noticeably softer than rubies are, measuring 6.5 to 7.5 on the mohs scale of mineral hardness. rubies, however, are one of the hardest gemstones on the mohs scale, with a score of 9.0. because of this, a ruby crystal was used in the worlds first laser. although garnets are softer, theyre used to cut steel, filter water, and finish wood furniture.

Explanation:

• "Are gemstones": Both garnets and rubies are gemstones as stated in the text.
• "Come in many colors": Garnets can come in orange, yellow, green, purple (in addition to red), while rubies are always a shade of red.
• "Have a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale": Rubies have a hardness of 9.0 on the Mohs scale, garnets have 6.5 - 7.5.
• "Were used in the first lasers": Ruby crystals were used in the world's first laser.

Answer:

• Are gemstones: Garnets (✔), Rubies (✔)
• Come in many colors: Garnets (✔), Rubies (✖)
• Have a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale: Garnets (✖), Rubies (✔)
• Were used in the first lasers: Garnets (✖), Rubies (✔)