[very_short_answer] The ocean contains vast quantities of dissolved minerals, yet only common salt, magnesium…

Question

[very_short_answer] The ocean contains vast quantities of dissolved minerals, yet only common salt, magnesium and bromine are commercially extracted from seawater in significant amounts. Give TWO reasons why most other minerals dissolved in ocean water are not economically extracted.

Accepted Answer

## Model Answer Most minerals in ocean water are **too widely diffused** (present in very low concentrations), making extraction costly and technologically difficult, and the process is not economically viable. Source: Mode of Occurrence of Minerals, Chapter 5 ## Explanation The passage directly states: "most of these are too widely diffused to be of economic significance." For a 1-mark question, identify the **two embedded reasons**: (1) very low/diffused concentration, and (2) therefore not economically viable to extract. Keep it to one line.

Social Science (087) — AI-generated practice question