Question

to boost the performance of oil - absorbing resins, which are used to remove oil and other organic compounds from wastewater, one team of materials researchers created a resin with a novel - albeit very expensive - monomer (a molecule that can chemically bond with analogous molecules to form polymers) synthesized from β - cyclodextrin. other researchers have produced resins consisting of various much cheaper, commercially available methacrylate monomers, including one derived from benzyl methacrylate (bzma). testing all these resins capacity to absorb toluene and trichloromethane, two organic compounds, a scientist concluded that when practical considerations were taken into account, the bzma - derived resin showed the greatest potential for use in wastewater cleanup. which finding, if true, would most directly support the scientists conclusion? a. for both toluene and trichloromethane, the bzma - derived resin exhibited only modestly lower absorption capacity than the resin synthesized from β - cyclodextrin but higher absorption capacity than other resins consisting of commercially available methacrylate monomers. b. relative to the resin synthesized from β - cyclodextrin and to other resins consisting of commercially available methacrylate monomers, the bzma - derived resin exhibited superior absorption capacity for toluene but not for trichloromethane. c. for both toluene and trichloromethane, the bzma - derived resin exhibited similar absorption capacity as other resins consisting of commercially available methacrylate monomers and a slightly higher absorption capacity than the resin synthesized from β - cyclodextrin. d. whereas the resin synthesized from β - cyclodextrin exhibited the highest absorption capacity for toluene, the bzma - derived resin and other resins consisting of commercially available methacrylate monomers exhibited the highest absorption capacity for trichloromethane.

Explanation:

The scientist concluded the BZMA - derived resin had the greatest potential for wastewater cleanup considering practical aspects. Option A shows that for both toluene and trichloromethane, it has a moderately lower absorption capacity than one resin but higher than others. This indicates a good overall performance relative to competitors, supporting its potential for practical use. Option B only mentions toluene and not trichloromethane, not fully supporting the claim for both compounds. Option C doesn't emphasize a significant advantage. Option D divides the highest - absorption capacities among different resins, not strongly supporting the BZMA - derived resin as the best for overall wastewater cleanup.

Answer:

A. For both toluene and trichloromethane, the BZMA - derived resin exhibited only modestly lower absorption capacity than the resin synthesized from β - cyclodextrin but higher absorption capacity than other resins consisting of commercially available methacrylate monomers.