Question

The resinous substance, shellac is obtained from
A) An insect
B) The bark of a tree
C) Crude oil
D) Distillation of wood

Answer 1

Hint: To produce liquid shellac, which is used as a food glaze, brush-on colorant, and wood finish, the dry flake extracted shellac is soluble in ethanol.

Complete answer: Plants naturally produce the resins in response to damage for their defensive effects. The resin defends the plant from insects and diseases.
Now lets us find the solution from the given options-
1. Shellac is a resin naturally produced on trees in the Indian and Thai forests by the female lac bug. It is manufactured and sold as dried flakes or soaked in alcohol to create liquid shellac that is used as a brush-on colouring, vegetable glaze and wood finish. So, an insect is the correct answer.
2. The bark of numerous trees has adapted to stand up to the climate in which each species resides. Scots pine bark provides fire-protection. So, the bark of a tree is an incorrect answer.
3. Crude oil, fluid petroleum contained in Earth's crust preserved in various porous rock formations and processed for burning as fuel or refining into chemical products. So, Crude oil is an incorrect answer.
4. Wood distillation generates hundreds of compounds like terpenes, tar, turpentine and methanol together with strong carbon residues. So, distillation of wood is an incorrect answer.

Thus, the option A is the correct option. i.e. An insect

Note: Secondary compounds found in resins are extracted from carbohydrates produced by photosynthesis. These carbohydrates are split into various compounds which form terpenoid and phenolic resins.