Which of the following metal can not be recovered from manual recycli…

The correct answer is Option (2) → Mercury

E-wastes are discarded computers and other electronic goods. In developing countries they are recycled largely by hand.

Option (1) Gold — Recovered in the recycling of e-waste. NCERT lists gold among the metals recovered.

Option (2) Mercury — Not recovered in the recycling of e-waste. NCERT does not list it; mercury is a toxic pollutant of e-waste that harms the workers.

Option (3) Copper — Recovered in the recycling of e-waste.

Option (4) Nickel — Recovered in the recycling of e-waste.

Note: This question is from Chapter 16, Environmental Issues, of the pre-rationalised NCERT book. This chapter is not in the present NCERT book (2026-27). The extract below is from the pre-rationalised edition.

NCERT Extract (Pre-rationalised edition, Chapter 16, Environmental Issues):
Solid Wastes – “… Irreparable computers and other electronic goods are known as electronic wastes (e-wastes). E-wastes are burried in landfills or incinerated. Over half of the e-wastes generated in the developed world are exported to developing countries, mainly to China, India and Pakistan, where metals like copper, iron, silicon, nickel and gold are recovered during recycling process.”
Domestic Sewage and Industrial Effluents – “… , often contain toxic substances, notably, heavy metals (defined as elements with density > 5 g/cm³ such as mercury, cadmium, copper, lead, etc.) and a wide variety of organic compounds.”