A soft white or greenish mineral composed of hydrated magnesium silicate, used in making talcum powder, ceramics, and as a lubricant. It is the softest mineral on the Mohs hardness scale.
From Arabic ṭalq, referring to this soft mineral that was ground into powder for various uses. The word entered Medieval Latin as talcum, then passed into various European languages and English by the 16th century. The Arabic origin reflects the Islamic world's advanced knowledge of mineralogy and chemistry during the medieval period.
Talc is so soft you can scratch it with your fingernail, which is why Arabic alchemists and scientists studied it intensively! They discovered many of its properties that we still use today, from cosmetics to industrial applications.
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