What is the purpose of mineral wool?

• A. To absorb and hold the liquid.
• B. To insulate against heat.
• C. To react with acids.
• D. To measure liquids.

Answer: (A)

Mineral wool works well in experiments because its fibrous, porous structure has many tiny spaces that can draw in liquid and hold it there. The liquid moves into those gaps through capillary action and stays due to gravity and surface tension. That makes mineral wool handy for soaking up spills or containing a liquid in a specific area, which is the main reason it’s used in this context. It’s not about reacting with acids or measuring liquids, and while it can insulate, that isn’t the purpose being tested here.