Tanco, A Leather Manufacturer, Uses Large Quantities of Common Salt to Preserve Animal Hides.

Question: Tanco, a leather manufacturer, uses large quantities of common salt to preserve animal hides. New environmental regulations have significantly increased the cost of disposing of salt water that results from this use, and, in consequence, Tanco is considering a plan to use potassium chloride in place of common salt. Research has shown that Tanco could reprocess the by-product of potassium chloride use to yield a crop fertilizer, leaving a relatively small volume of waste for disposal.

In determining the impact on company profits of using potassium chloride in place of common salt, it would be important for Tanco to research all of the following EXCEPT:

(A) What difference, if any, is there between the cost of the common salt needed to preserve a given quantity of animal hides and the cost of the potassium chloride needed to preserve the same quantity of hides?
(B) To what extent is the equipment involved in preserving animal hides using common salt suitable for preserving animal hides using potassium chloride?
(C) What environmental regulations, if any, constrain the disposal of the waste generated in reprocessing the by-product of potassium chloride?
(D) How closely does leather that results when common salt is used to preserve hides resemble that which results when potassium chloride is used?
(E) Are the chemical properties that make potassium chloride an effective means for preserving animal hides the same as those that make common salt an effective means for doing so?

“Tanco, a leather manufacturer, uses large quantities of common salt to preserve animal hides.”- is a GMAT critical reasoning passage with answers. This particular GMAT critical reasoning topic has been taken from the book “GMAT CR Practice Question 10.” Candidates need a strong knowledge of English GMAT critical reasoning. This GMAT critical reasoning question consists of a comprehension question and 4 options to choose from. The GMAT critical reasoning questions are designed for the purpose of testing candidates’ abilities in understanding, analyzing, and applying information or concepts.

Answer: E
Explanation: This is a GMAT critical reasoning question. We have to select the option that satisfies the condition in the passage.

Let’s us through each of the available options and choose the most suitable one for the argument.

Option A: What difference, if any, is there between the cost of the common salt needed to preserve a given quantity of animal hides and the cost of the potassium chloride needed to preserve the same quantity of hides?

This option is incorrect because we are aware that Tanco’s plan will help the company in avoiding the increased cost of saltwater disposal. But it is possible that this plan increases the cost in other ways. What will happen in case potassium chloride that is needed to preserve some quantity of hides costs more than the amount of common salt needed to preserve the same quantity of hides? The company will be forced to spend more on potassium chloride and this can have a negative impact on the profits. So, Option A is incorrect.

Option B: To what extent is the equipment involved in preserving animal hides using common salt suitable for preserving animal hides using potassium chloride?

This option is incorrect because in case some of the equipment required for using common salt is not suitable for potassium chloride, Tanco may require to change the equipment. This will raise the costs and significantly affect the profits. So, Option B is incorrect.

Option C: What environmental regulations, if any, constrain the disposal of the waste generated in reprocessing the by-product of potassium chloride?

This option is incorrect because even when the amount of potassium chloride that is to be disposed of is low, environmental regulations can make it expensive. Disposal of potassium chloride waste might be more expensive than common salt. Tanco would definitely want to determine whether the company will face other regulations if the plan is implemented. So, Option C is incorrect.

Option D: How closely does leather that results when common salt is used to preserve hides resemble that which results when potassium chloride is used?

This option is incorrect because even if using potassium chloride to produce leather is a cheaper option, it is possible that it will affect the characteristics of leather. It may impact its demand in the market and ultimately the profits. So, Option D is incorrect.

Option E: Are the chemical properties that make potassium chloride an effective means for preserving animal hides the same as those that make common salt an effective means for doing so?

This option is correct because just knowing the chemical properties of the two elements is not impact the profits in any way. As long as they both have the same effect, their way or mechanism is not important to understand. So, Option E is correct.

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