🔍 Key Concepts

• Chemical dispersants and how they work on oil spills • Difference between removing oil vs changing its form or location in the water • Environmental concerns with sinking or dissolving oil vs breaking it into smaller droplets

💭 Think About

• Ask yourself: What do commonly used oil spill chemicals (dispersants) actually do to the oil on the surface? • Consider whether the primary goal is to completely get the oil out of the water, or to change how it is spread and how it affects shorelines and wildlife. • Think about which options would be considered environmentally unacceptable as a main purpose.

✅ Before You Answer

• Verify which choice describes breaking oil into small droplets and mixing it into the water column, rather than removing it entirely. • Eliminate any choice that suggests the oil is simply pushed to another problem area (like the sea bed) instead of being properly treated. • Confirm that the correct option matches the realistic, known function of dispersant chemicals used under spill response plans.