Which of the following utilizes inorganic materials ?

Options

A. Autotrophs
B. Decomposers
C. Saprophytes
D. Heterotrophs

Answer

**Step-by-Step Text Solution:**

1. **Understanding Inorganic Materials:**
- Inorganic materials are substances that do not contain both hydrogen and carbon. Examples include minerals, water, and gases like carbon dioxide.

2. **Identifying the Options:**
- The question provides four options: Autotrophs, Decomposers, Saprophytes, and Heterotrophs. We need to analyze each option to determine which utilizes inorganic materials.

3. **Analyzing Autotrophs:**
- Autotrophs, such as plants, are organisms that can produce their own food. They perform photosynthesis, where they utilize inorganic substances like carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O) to produce glucose (C6H12O6), an organic compound. Therefore, autotrophs utilize inorganic materials.

4. **Analyzing Decomposers:**
- Decomposers are microorganisms that break down dead organic matter. They convert organic materials back into inorganic substances, which can then be used by plants. However, they do not directly utilize inorganic materials for their own growth.

5. **Analyzing Saprophytes:**
- Saprophytes are similar to decomposers; they feed on dead and decaying organic matter. They also do not utilize inorganic materials directly, as they rely on organic matter for sustenance.

6. **Analyzing Heterotrophs:**
- Heterotrophs are organisms that cannot produce their own food and must consume organic matter. They depend on autotrophs for their energy and nutrients, thus they do not utilize inorganic materials directly.

7. **Conclusion:**
- Among all the options, only autotrophs utilize inorganic materials (CO2 and H2O) to produce organic compounds (glucose). Therefore, the correct answer is **Option 1: Autotrophs**.

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