Question

Consider the following groups:

1. Cotton, silk, nylon, leather
2. Wool, wood, soap, wheat
3. Banana, cat, rat, tree
4. Soap, detergent, silk, polyester

The groups of biodegradable material are:

• A. i, ii and iii
• B. ii, iii and iv
• C. i and iv
• D. ii and iii

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Biodegradable materials are substances that can be decomposed by bacteria or other living organisms. Let’s analyze each group:

1. Partially biodegradable: Cotton and silk are biodegradable (natural fibers), but nylon and leather are not readily biodegradable (synthetic and animal product, respectively).
2. Biodegradable: Wool (animal protein), wood (plant material), and wheat (plant material) are biodegradable. Soap is generally considered biodegradable, though the rate of biodegradability depends on its formulation.
3. Biodegradable (mostly): Banana, tree, and other plant matter are biodegradable. While a cat and rat are biodegradable after death (being organic matter), their decomposition is a much slower and complex process.
4. Partially biodegradable: Soap can be biodegradable (see above). Silk is biodegradable (natural fiber). However, detergents and polyester are not readily biodegradable (synthetic).

Therefore, groups ii (with some caveats about soap) and iii (with caveats about the animal component) are primarily composed of biodegradable materials.