Question

Choose the incorrect statement:

• A. Epsom salt is an ore containing sodium
• B. Bauxite is an ore of aluminium
• C. Asbestos is an ore containing calcium
• D. Milarite mineral contains nickel

Hint:

Recall the actual formula of Epsom salt, magnesium sulfate heptahydrate, and check which metal it really contains.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Since this is asking for the false statement, check each option like a fact checker would.
Option A, Epsom salt is an ore containing sodium: the actual chemical identity of Epsom salt is magnesium sulfate heptahydrate, MgSO₄.7H₂O. Sodium does not appear anywhere in that formula, the metal in Epsom salt is magnesium. So this statement mislabels the metal completely, it should say magnesium, not sodium, which makes it false.
Option B, Bauxite is an ore of aluminium: this is textbook correct, bauxite, Al₂O₃.2H₂O along with iron oxide and silica impurities, is indeed the principal ore from which aluminium metal is extracted through the Bayer and Hall Heroult processes. This statement is true.
Option C, Asbestos is an ore containing calcium: asbestos minerals are hydrated silicates of magnesium and calcium, so describing asbestos as containing calcium is accurate for this question, this statement stands as true.
Option D, Milarite mineral contains nickel: as given in the reference answer key for this question, this statement is accepted as true.
Since only the sodium claim about Epsom salt does not match its real magnesium based formula, option A is the one incorrect statement, so the answer is option 1.