1. which of the below is an example of high-quality matter found near the earth's surface?
a. natural gas
b. mine tailings
c. bauxite (al ore)
d. recyclable materials in a landfill
e. nitrogen gas in the atmosphere
well, I guess natural gas is higher quality than most of what you find in a landfill :) It all depends on their definition of "near" the surface though.
To determine which of the options is an example of high-quality matter found near the Earth's surface, we need to understand what "high-quality matter" means in this context.
High-quality matter refers to substances that are pure, easily accessible, and possess characteristics that make them valuable for various purposes. Now let's evaluate each option to determine which one fits this description:
a. Natural gas: Natural gas is considered high-quality matter. It is a clean-burning fossil fuel and is widely used for heating, cooking, and electricity generation.
b. Mine tailings: Mine tailings are waste materials generated during mining operations. They typically contain various minerals and may include harmful substances. Therefore, mine tailings are not high-quality matter.
c. Bauxite (al ore): Bauxite is the primary source of aluminum. It is an abundant mineral found near the Earth's surface and is considered high-quality matter.
d. Recyclable materials in a landfill: Recyclable materials in a landfill are not high-quality matter because they have already been discarded and are in a state of waste. However, the materials themselves may still have value if properly recovered and recycled.
e. Nitrogen gas in the atmosphere: Nitrogen gas in the atmosphere is not considered high-quality matter because it is not easily accessible in pure form and requires energy-intensive processes to separate it from other components of the air.
Based on this evaluation, the correct answer is option c. Bauxite (al ore) is an example of high-quality matter found near the Earth's surface.