Question Q14GS1GS1
With the growing demand for rare earth elements, their distribution has become a critical aspect of the global economy. Discuss the distribution of rare earth elements across the world, their uses, and the environmental impact of their extraction.
Main Body
With the growing demand for rare earth elements, their distribution has become a critical aspect of the global economy. Discuss the distribution of rare earth elements across the world, their uses, and the environmental impact of their extraction.
Rare earth elements are called 'rare' because they occur less commonly. Compared to other elements.
REE are 17 elements consisting of Lanthanide series ⊕ Yttrium & Scandium.
Distribution of REE
1India has 6%. of REE (5th largest in the world)
2China: maximum reserve & production (~ 80 y. of production)
3Vietnam (18 y.) and Brazil (15 y.) of reserves.
4Other countries like Australia, USA etc also possess it in lesser quantity.
USES of REE
1In Electronics equipment → LEDs, Electric vehicles, mobile & Laptop etc.
2Defense equipment → Precision striking missiles, Nuclear diver.
3Health → MRI machine, Electrocardiography.
4Space → Satellites, e.g Chandrayan's Infrabomome space station.
5Semiconductors industry & Quantum Computing
Environmental impacts on Extraction
1Radioactivity of REEs can influence local humans & biodiversity.
2Huge water requirement in some processes eg: Yttrium extraction
3Occurs in low concentration: So huge quantity has to be dug in → habitat destruction.
4Polluting stress & water bodies nearby: chemicals used in extraction flow into these.
5Recently India was included in mineral securities partnership led by USA. It is positive step in demonstration of extraction & REEs.
234 words7 paragraphs
- Provides clear definition of REE
- Lists constituent elements (Lanthanides, Yttrium, Scandium)
- Gives specific reserve and production data for major countries
- Comprehensive list of REE applications across multiple sectors
- Includes both civilian and defense applications
- Provides specific examples (Chandrayaan, International Space Station)
- Covers environmental impacts comprehensively
- Mentions specific issues: radioactivity, water pollution, habitat destruction
- Includes recent current affairs (mineral securities partnership)
- Discusses scale of extraction problem
Topper
Abhishek Singh
AIR 17473118689912023
Subject & Paper
GS1GS1
Topic
Rare Earth Elements
Distribution, Uses, and Environmental Impact
REE Production and Extraction
Writing Stats
234
Total words
7
Paragraphs
Technical, current affairs aware
Tone