About 50% of the Earth’s crust, including the waters on the Earth and atmosphere, is?

Q: About 50% of the Earth’s crust, including the waters on the Earth and atmosphere, is?

Oxygen - The Earth’s crust is primarily made up of a small group of elements, with oxygen being the most abundant element, making up about 46–50% by weight of the crust. Oxygen is present not only as a gas in the atmosphere and a major part of water (H₂O) in oceans and rivers, but it also combines chemically with other elements to form minerals and rocks in the crust. Oxygen in Earth's Crust: Found mainly in oxides and silicate minerals, such as quartz (SiO₂), feldspar, and clay minerals. Essential component of water, which covers over 70% of Earth's surface. Makes up nearly half the total mass of the Earth's solid crust, hydrosphere, and atmosphere combined. Comparison with Other Elements: Silicon: The second most abundant element (~28%), found mainly as silicate minerals. Carbon Dioxide: Exists mostly as a trace gas in the atmosphere (~0.04%) and in carbonate rocks but does not make up 50% of the crust. Clay: Not an element but a group of minerals primarily made of oxygen, silicon, aluminum, and other elements. Why Oxygen Is Most Abundant: Oxygen has a strong tendency to form chemical bonds with metals and non-metals, creating stable compounds. Most rocks are oxygen-rich minerals, like silicates and carbonates. The combination of oxygen in air, water, and solid crust materials makes it the dominant element on Earth. Therefore, the correct answer is Oxygen (Option A), as it constitutes about 50% of the Earth's crust, waters, and atmosphere, making it the most abundant element in the near-surface environment of our planet.

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Accepted Answer

Oxygen - The Earth&rsquo;s crust is primarily made up of a small group of elements, with oxygen being the most abundant element, making up about 46&ndash;50% by weight of the crust. Oxygen is present not only as a gas in the atmosphere and a major part of water (H₂O) in oceans and rivers, but it also combines chemically with other elements to form minerals and rocks in the crust.
Oxygen in Earth's Crust:


Found mainly in oxides and silicate minerals, such as quartz (SiO₂), feldspar, and clay minerals.


Essential component of water, which covers over 70% of Earth's surface.


Makes up nearly half the total mass of the Earth's solid crust, hydrosphere, and atmosphere combined.


Comparison with Other Elements:


Silicon: The second most abundant element (~28%), found mainly as silicate minerals.


Carbon Dioxide: Exists mostly as a trace gas in the atmosphere (~0.04%) and in carbonate rocks but does not make up 50% of the crust.


Clay: Not an element but a group of minerals primarily made of oxygen, silicon, aluminum, and other elements.


Why Oxygen Is Most Abundant:


Oxygen has a strong tendency to form chemical bonds with metals and non-metals, creating stable compounds.


Most rocks are oxygen-rich minerals, like silicates and carbonates.


The combination of oxygen in air, water, and solid crust materials makes it the dominant element on Earth.


Therefore, the correct answer is Oxygen (Option A), as it constitutes about 50% of the Earth's crust, waters, and atmosphere, making it the most abundant element in the near-surface environment of our planet.

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