Which of the following countries is the leading producer of iodine in the world?

1. A

   Japan

   Japan has iodine from seaweed and brine, but it is not keyed as the world’s leading producer. Japanese output is a Pacific distractor, not the official first rank.

2. B

   United States of America

   The United States produces iodine from brines (for example Oklahoma) yet is not the stored world leader. Do not equate a large industrial consumer with the keyed producer.

3. C

   Chile

   (c) Official key: Chile is keyed as the world’s leading iodine producer. Caliche (nitrate) ores of the Atacama have long supplied most mined iodine. Among Japan, the USA, Chile and China, Chile is the official leader.

4. D

   China

   China is a major chemical manufacturer and iodine user, not this paper’s keyed top producer. Manufacturing scale is not the same as caliche-mine leadership.

Summary. Official key is (c). World iodine leadership in this question is Chile’s Atacama caliche, not East Asian processing or US brine. Japan, the USA and China are real industry names but not the stored first producer. Keep Chile. The official letter is (c).