What Makes the Shell of a Lobster So Hard

Question

What makes the shell of a lobster so hard?
A)It contains chitin which is hard and inflexible.
B)The procuticle is impregnated with calcium salts.
C)It is due solely to a tanning process.
D)The procuticle and epicuticle are laminated.
E)The shell protein contains more lipid.

Accepted Answer

The hard shell of a lobster is due to the fact that its procuticle, the thicker layer of its exoskeleton, is impregnated with calcium salts. This mineralization makes the shell tough and resistant to cracking or breaking. The procuticle is also laminated, meaning that it is made up of layers of different materials, such as chitin and proteins, which adds further strength and stiffness to the shell.