Question

Silicon is an important constituent of

• A. chlorophyll
• B. haemoglobin
• C. rocks
• D. amalgams

Answer 1

The correct option is C

rocks

Explanation of the correct answer:

The correct answer is option C:

1. Silicate minerals and compounds, which incorporate silicon oxide in their lattice, are found in rocks.
2. The names and characteristics of rocks are influenced by the amount of silica in them. We may now state that silicon is a significant component of rocks.

Explanation of the incorrect options:

Option A:

1. The chlorophyll that plants use to absorb sunlight is present. The core magnesium atom in the chlorophyll molecule is encircled by a porphyrin (nitrogen) ring.
2. Therefore, we might conclude that silicon is absent from chlorophyll.

Option B:

1. A protein called haemoglobin is what gives blood its red hue. Iron serves as the main metal atom in a portion of the haemoglobin protein known as the heme group.
2. Therefore, haemoglobin does not include silicon either.

Option D:

1. A metal and mercury are combined to create amalgam. When filling teeth, silver amalgam, which is a combination of silver and mercury, is employed.
2. Therefore, we may conclude that an amalgam contains mercury rather than silicon.

Hence, option C is correct, i.e., rocks.