Choose the correct option to fill in the blank in the flow chart : [Flow chart: Minerals branch into Metallic

Question

Q. Choose the correct option to fill in the blank in the flow chart : [Flow chart: Minerals branch into Metallic and Non-metallic. Non-metallic branches into 'Fuel mineral - Example - Coal' and 'Other non-metallic minerals - Example ________'.] Options : (A) Gold (B) Bauxite (C) Graphite (D) Manganese

CBSECBSE Class XII Board 2024MCQ· 1mImportance★★★★★

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Concept understanding — Abiotic Resource

Abiotic Resource – From Intuition to Precision

Imagine you are standing in a forest. Around you are trees, birds, deer, mushrooms, and insects — all living things. Now look past them. Feel the soil under your feet, the rock jutting out of the hillside, the water in a nearby stream, the air you are breathing, and the sunlight warming your skin. None of these are alive. Yet without them, the forest could not exist.

That is the core idea: abiotic resources are the non-living parts of nature that living things depend on.

The Intuition

The word abiotic comes from Greek: a- (without) + bios (life). So an abiotic resource is simply a resource that comes from the non-living world. It is not and never was alive. Think of:

Water – rivers, lakes, groundwater, rain
Air – the atmosphere, especially oxygen and carbon dioxide
Soil – minerals, sand, clay, silt
Minerals and rocks – iron ore, copper, limestone, gold
Sunlight – solar energy
Fossil fuels – coal, petroleum, natural gas (these come from once-living organisms, but they have been transformed by geological processes into non-living substances; they are still classified as abiotic resources because they are now inert, non-living materials)

Every time you drink water, breathe, or use a metal object, you are using an abiotic resource.

The Precise Statement

Abiotic Resource : Any naturally occurring, non-living substance or energy form that is useful to humans (or to other living organisms) and is obtained from the environment.

Key characteristics:

Non-living – never had life, or has been transformed into a non-living state (e.g., fossil fuels).
Naturally occurring – found in nature, not manufactured by humans (though humans may extract or process them).
Useful – serves a purpose, whether for survival (water, air) or for economic activity (minerals, energy).

A Quick Classification to Lock It In

Category	Examples	Why It Matters
Energy resources	Sunlight, wind, geothermal heat, tidal energy	Renewable, non-polluting (mostly)
Mineral resources	Iron, copper, bauxite, limestone	Used in construction, electronics, industry
Water resources	Rivers, lakes, groundwater	Essential for life, agriculture, industry
Atmospheric resources	Oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide	Breathing, plant growth, industrial gases
Land/soil resources	Topsoil, clay, sand	Agriculture, building materials

Common Mistake to Avoid …

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The flowchart classifies minerals into metallic and non-metallic. Non-metallic minerals are further divided into fuel minerals (like coal) and other non-metallic minerals. Among the given options, Graphite is a non-metallic mineral that is not a fuel mineral, making it the correct fit.

Minerals are naturally occurring substances with a definite chemical composition and crystal structure. They are broadly classified based on their chemical composition and physical properties, primarily into metallic and non-metallic types. Understanding this fundamental classification is key to identifying the correct option.

Concept of Mineral Classification

Metallic Minerals: These minerals contain metals in their raw form. They are typically hard, possess a metallic lustre, and are good conductors of heat and electricity. Examples include iron ore, bauxite (aluminium ore), gold, silver, copper, and manganese. Metallic minerals can be further categorised as ferrous (containing iron, like iron ore and manganese) or non-ferrous (not containing iron, like gold, bauxite, and copper).
Non-metallic Minerals: These minerals do not contain metals. They often lack metallic lustre, are generally softer, and are poor conductors of heat and electricity. Non-metallic minerals are diverse and serve various purposes. They are commonly divided into two main sub-categories:
- Fuel Minerals: These are non-metallic minerals that are combustible and used as sources of energy. The most common examples are coal, petroleum, and natural gas.
- Other Non-metallic Minerals: This category includes all other non-metallic minerals that are not primarily used as fuels. Examples include limestone, mica, gypsum, salt, potash, sulphur, and graphite.

The flowchart provided illustrates this classification:

Minerals branch into Metallic and Non-metallic.
Non-metallic minerals further branch into 'Fuel mineral - Example - Coal' and 'Other non-metallic minerals - Example ________'.

We need to find an example of an 'Other non-metallic mineral' from the given options.

Step-by-step Analysis:

Understand the blank's category: The blank requires an example of an 'Other non-metallic mineral'. This means the mineral must be non-metallic and not a fuel mineral.
Evaluate Option (A) Gold:
- Gold is a precious metal. It is a metallic mineral.
- Therefore, it does not fit the 'Non-metallic' branch of the flowchart.
Evaluate Option (B) Bauxite: …

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Same / Similar Concept — real previous-year questions on the same or a closely similar concept, not this exact question.

CBSE 2024Set 64/2/11 markMCQ
$Q. Choose the correct option to fill in the blank in the flow chart : [Flow chart: Minerals branch into Metallic and Non-metallic. Non-metallic branches into 'Fuel mineral - Example - Coal' and 'Other non-metallic minerals - Example ________'.] Options : (A) Gold (B) Bauxite (C) Graphite (D) Manganese$
›Reveal solutionSolution
The flowchart classifies minerals into metallic and non-metallic. Non-metallic minerals are further divided into fuel minerals (like coal) and other non-metallic minerals. Among the given options, Graphite is a non-metallic mineral that is not a fuel mineral, making it the correct fit.

Minerals are naturally occurring substances with a definite chemical composition and crystal structure. They are broadly classified based on their chemical composition and physical properties, primarily into metallic and non-metallic types. Understanding this fundamental classification is key to identifying the correct option.

Concept of Mineral Classification

Metallic Minerals: These minerals contain metals in their raw form. They are typically hard, possess a metallic lustre, and are good conductors of heat and electricity. Examples include iron ore, bauxite (aluminium ore), gold, silver, copper, and manganese. Metallic minerals can be further categorised as ferrous (containing iron, like iron ore and manganese) or non-ferrous (not containing iron, like gold, bauxite, and copper).

Non-metallic Minerals: These minerals do not contain metals. They often lack metallic lustre, are generally softer, and are poor conductors of heat and electricity. Non-metallic minerals are diverse and serve various purposes. They are commonly divided into two main sub-categories:

Fuel Minerals: These are non-metallic minerals that are combustible and used as sources of energy. The most common examples are coal, petroleum, and natural gas.

Other Non-metallic Minerals: This category includes all other non-metallic minerals that are not primarily used as fuels. Examples include limestone, mica, gypsum, salt, potash, sulphur, and graphite.

The flowchart provided illustrates this classification:

Minerals branch into Metallic and Non-metallic.

Non-metallic minerals further branch into 'Fuel mineral - Example - Coal' and 'Other non-metallic minerals - Example ________'.

We need to find an example of an 'Other non-metallic mineral' from the given options.

Step-by-step Analysis:

Understand the blank's category: The blank requires an example of an 'Other non-metallic mineral'. This means the mineral must be non-metallic and not a fuel mineral.

Evaluate Option (A) Gold:

Gold is a precious metal. It is a metallic mineral.

Therefore, it does not fit the 'Non-metallic' branch of the flowchart.

Evaluate Option (B) Bauxite: …
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