Which term describes non-plant-derived substances that are essential for life, such as minerals?

• A. Inorganic
• B. Vitamins
• C. Nutrients
• D. Organic

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is how substances essential for life are classified by their origin and chemistry. Minerals, which are essential inorganic components like calcium, iron, and potassium, come from earth and water rather than being built from carbon-containing molecules. That makes them inorganic. In nutrition, there are inorganic nutrients (minerals and water) and organic nutrients (carbohydrates, proteins, fats, and vitamins). Vitamins are organic, so they aren’t described by the term for non-plant-derived minerals. While “nutrients” is a broad umbrella that includes both inorganic and organic substances, the description specifically points to inorganic substances.