The correct answer is: (B) more than 5 g/cm3.
Toxic heavy metals released from various industrial processes, such as mining, manufacturing, and chemical production, are a significant source of water pollution. These metals, including lead, mercury, arsenic, and cadmium, are harmful to both aquatic life and human health.
Heavy metals typically have a density greater than 5 g/cm3, meaning they are denser than water. As a result, when they enter water bodies, they tend to settle at the bottom rather than remain suspended in the water. This can lead to the contamination of sediments and the aquatic food chain, as these metals accumulate over time.
The high density of these metals also contributes to their persistence in the environment, as they do not easily degrade or evaporate. This makes their presence in water bodies particularly concerning, as they can have long-term toxic effects on ecosystems and human populations.