- Wed Dec 04, 2024 5:03 pm
#110932
Hi Lounalola!
Let's break down our passage:
Paragraph 1: Larry Koskan was inspired by how oyster shells grow, in that they produce a special protein-based agent that molds minerals into their shell's shape.
Paragraph 2: Water-soluble polyacrylates were used to stop the buildup of mineral scale deposits in industrial equipment. The agent produced by oysters (polyaspartate) behaves similarly to polyacrylate, however, it is also biodegradable.
Paragraph 3: Polyacrylates are easy to manufacture, and are commonly used in laundry detergents. They are used as an alternative to phosphates, which are a major water pollutant. However, this issue with polyacrylates is that they last virtually forever, and end up in landfills.
Paragraph 4: Koskan started to research and develop polyaspartate as an environmentally friendly alternative to polyacrylate. Unfortunately, production was significantly more expensive, resulting in a much costlier product. However, polyaspartate is currently being used in other applications, and has been exceptionally successful at both its intended use, and reducing pollution. Hopefully, if there is continued success, it can aid the field of environmental chemistry.
Our question stem asks us what is true of both polyaspartate and polyacrylate.
Answer Choice A states that: "they perform identically within any industrial application."
In paragraph two, we can see the statement: "Polyaspartate mimics the scale-inhibiting activity of polyacrylates because it has a similar chemical structure." This does not provide us with sufficient evidence to state that they perform identically-- we just know that in one specific application (preventing scale accumulation), they perform similarly.
Answer Choice D states that: "they both have been used to produce water pollution."
We have direct evidence to support this claim!
Paragraph 3 tells us that polyacrylates were used as an alternative to phosphates in an attempt to reduce surface water via wastewater. Paragraph 4 tels us that polyaspartate has been used to reduce the pollution of groundwater by fertilizers. Both polyacrylate and polyaspartate were used to reduce water pollution, thus pointing us to Answer Choice D.
I hope this helps!
