In this verbal analogy related to mineral ores, Chromite is an ore of Chromium. Ilmenite is an ore of which metal in the same way?

Introduction / Context:
This analogy question tests basic general knowledge of minerals and their associated metals. In many competitive aptitude and government examinations, students are expected to know the important ores of common metals such as iron, aluminium, chromium, and titanium. The pair Chromite : Chromium is given as an example, and the task is to identify which metal has Ilmenite as a major ore. Understanding such ore mineral relationships is helpful for questions in general science, geography, and basic metallurgy.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Chromite is given as an ore of the metal Chromium.
• Ilmenite is another ore mineral whose associated metal must be identified.
• The options list several possible metals or substances: Cobalt, Titanium, Limestone, and Manganese.
• We assume standard school level general science information about ores and metals.

Concept / Approach:
The core idea behind the analogy is that the relationship between the first pair must be the same as the relationship between the second pair. Chromite is a well known ore of the metal Chromium. In a similar way, Ilmenite is a well known ore of the metal Titanium. By recalling this standard association, we can complete the analogy correctly. The distractor options include other metals and one non metal substance to test whether the learner really remembers which metal comes from Ilmenite.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Observe the structure of the analogy Chromite : Chromium. Step 2: Recognise that Chromite is not a metal but a mineral ore, while Chromium is the extracted metal. Step 3: Apply the same pattern to the second pair Ilmenite : ? where Ilmenite must be an ore and the missing term must be the corresponding metal. Step 4: Recall from basic chemistry and geography that Ilmenite is a major ore of Titanium, used to produce titanium dioxide and other titanium compounds. Step 5: Check the options and confirm that Titanium appears as one of the choices, so Ilmenite : Titanium completes the analogy correctly.

Verification / Alternative check:
A quick verification method is to remove the options and rely on independent memory. Most school level textbooks list important ores: Bauxite for aluminium, Hematite and Magnetite for iron, Chromite for chromium, and Ilmenite and Rutile for titanium. This confirms that Ilmenite is associated with Titanium. Another check is to note that Limestone is not a metal at all but a sedimentary rock mainly composed of calcium carbonate, so it cannot be the required metal. Cobalt and Manganese have their own typical ores, such as Cobaltite and Pyrolusite, rather than Ilmenite. Therefore Titanium remains the only correct metal linked with Ilmenite.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Cobalt: Cobalt is a metal, but its important ores include Cobaltite and Erythrite, not Ilmenite, so this option does not match the given analogy.
Manganese: Manganese is usually obtained from ores like Pyrolusite and Manganite, not Ilmenite, so this option is incorrect.
Limestone: Limestone is not a metal but a rock. It is mainly calcium carbonate and serves as a raw material in cement and metallurgy, so it cannot complete the ore to metal pattern.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to pick any familiar sounding metal without properly recalling the actual ore mineral relationship. Another pitfall is to get confused by the presence of Limestone, which learners may recognise from cement industry topics and might wrongly connect with metals. Also, some students may recall that Ilmenite contains iron and titanium together and become unsure about which metal is the important one in this analogy. The correct focus should be on the main metal commonly extracted for industrial purposes, which is Titanium.

Final Answer:
The correct completion of the analogy is that Ilmenite is an ore of the metal Titanium, just as Chromite is an ore of Chromium.