Final answer:
The darkest type of asteroid with the lowest reflectivity is the Type C - Carbonaceous asteroid, with a very low albedo of 3 to 4%. They are primitive, contain organic carbon compounds, and are mainly located in the outer asteroid belt. S-type asteroids are brighter and have a higher albedo due to the absence of dark carbon compounds.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of asteroid that would appear darkest and reflect the least amount of light is the Type C - Carbonaceous asteroid, which has a very low albedo. These asteroids are known for their composition of silicates mixed with dark, organic carbon compounds, and they have a reflectivity of only about 3 to 4%, akin to a lump of coal. In contrast, Type E - S-type asteroids, which are composed of stony or silicate materials without the dark carbon compounds, have a higher reflectivity and appear brighter, with clearer spectral signatures of silicate minerals.
C-type asteroids are considered primitive bodies that have changed little since the dawn of the solar system and are usually found in the outer part of the asteroid belt. They are the parent bodies of carbonaceous meteorites, which contain various complex organic molecules and sometimes chemically bound water. The largest of these, Ceres and Pallas, are C-type asteroids, and their surfaces were touched by spacecraft in the years 2020 and 2021, during missions to asteroids Bennu and Ryugu.