Which is the closest synonym for the word contaminant?
A air B iron C poison D plastic
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is C) poison.
A contaminant refers to any substance that makes something impure or harmful by being added to it. In most contexts, a contaminant can be a harmful substance or agent that pollutes something, especially when it leads to harm or risk to health, safety, or quality. The closest synonym to contaminant is poison, as both involve substances that can cause damage or negative effects.
- Poison is a substance that can cause injury, illness, or death when it is ingested, inhaled, or absorbed. It is a type of contaminant that is toxic, meaning it has the potential to alter or damage biological systems, making it harmful or deadly to humans, animals, or the environment.
- Air, iron, and plastic are not necessarily harmful or contaminating in their basic form. Air is essential for life, and iron and plastic, while they can have harmful effects in certain contexts (like iron overdoses or plastic pollution), are not inherently contaminating in the same way that poison is. Contaminants are usually harmful or unwanted substances, whereas iron and plastic are often useful materials.
In cases like water or food contamination, a contaminant could be an inorganic or organic substance like a toxin, bacteria, or pollutant. The key idea with contaminants is their capacity to disrupt or degrade a system or environment, often with harmful consequences.
The word contaminant is commonly used in environmental science, medicine, food safety, and chemistry to describe agents that pollute or harm a substance, organism, or ecosystem, which is why poison fits best as a synonym.