Previous Year Question
Recently, there has been a concern over the short supply of a group of elements called ‘Rare Earth Metals’. Why?
China, which is the largest producer of these elements, has imposed some restrictions on their export.
Other than China, Australia, Canada and Chile, these elements are not found in any country.
Rare Earth metals are essential for the manufacture of various kinds of electronic items and there is a growing demand for these elements.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
1 only
2 and 3 only
1 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
Correct Answer: C
Detailed Solution
Statement 1 is correct. At the time of the question, China was the largest producer of rare earth elements. It had imposed export quotas, duties, licensing requirements and other restrictions, creating concerns about global supply.
Statement 2 is incorrect. Rare earth elements are not confined to China, Australia, Canada and Chile. Deposits and economic sources also occur in countries such as the United States, India, Brazil and Russia.
Statement 3 is correct. Rare earth elements are used in electronic goods, permanent magnets, batteries, catalysts, communication equipment and several advanced technologies. Consequently, their demand was increasing.
Exam fact: Rare earth elements comprise 17 elements—the 15 lanthanides along with scandium and yttrium. They are relatively abundant in the Earth’s crust; economically workable concentrations and separation are the main challenges.