Which of the following materials is considered a finite resource?

Which of the following materials is considered a finite resource?

• A. Wood from trees
• B. Polymers from oils and chemicals
• C. Biopolymers from renewable crops
• D. Mineral resources from the earth

Answer: (B)

The correct answer is that polymers derived from oils and chemicals are considered a finite resource. This classification stems from their dependence on fossil fuels, which are non-renewable resources created over millions of years from organic matter. The extraction and consumption of these resources are limited, and once they are depleted, they will not be replenished on a human timescale. In contrast, wood from trees is a renewable resource if managed sustainably, as forests can regenerate over time. Biopolymers, which are sourced from renewable crops, also fall into the category of renewable resources since they can be produced through ongoing agricultural processes. Mineral resources, while often described as finite as well, do not strictly fit the same category as polymers because mineral deposits can be subject to ongoing geological processes, albeit at a very slow rate over geological timescales. Thus, polymers serve as the clearest example of a finite resource in the context of the options given, underscoring the importance of transitioning to more sustainable materials wherever possible.

The correct answer is that polymers derived from oils and chemicals are considered a finite resource. This classification stems from their dependence on fossil fuels, which are non-renewable resources created over millions of years from organic matter. The extraction and consumption of these resources are limited, and once they are depleted, they will not be replenished on a human timescale.

In contrast, wood from trees is a renewable resource if managed sustainably, as forests can regenerate over time. Biopolymers, which are sourced from renewable crops, also fall into the category of renewable resources since they can be produced through ongoing agricultural processes. Mineral resources, while often described as finite as well, do not strictly fit the same category as polymers because mineral deposits can be subject to ongoing geological processes, albeit at a very slow rate over geological timescales.

Thus, polymers serve as the clearest example of a finite resource in the context of the options given, underscoring the importance of transitioning to more sustainable materials wherever possible.