Final answer:
Acidophiles are organisms that prefer highly acidic environments. You are most likely to encounter an acidophile in mine drainage, which has a very low pH of 1-2. These microorganisms have special adaptations that enable them to survive and even thrive in such extreme acidic conditions.
Step-by-step explanation:
In which environment are you most likely to encounter an acidophile? You are most likely to find an acidophile in an environment with a very low pH level, which indicates high acidity. Acidophiles are organisms that thrive in acidic conditions. Among the environments listed, mine drainage, with a pH of 1-2, is the most acidic and is known to be a habitat for acidophilic microorganisms such as the genus Ferroplasma. These bacteria can survive in pH values as low as 0-2.9. Although hot springs and deep-sea hydrothermal vents can also be acidic, the specific conditions mentioned for mine drainage correspond precisely to the optimal conditions for acidophiles.
Acidophiles have unique adaptations that allow them to thrive in such extreme conditions. For example, they may possess proteins with increased negative surface charge and mechanisms like pumps to actively eject H+ ions. It is important to note that hot springs and deep-sea hydrothermal vents can house various extremophiles, but for acidity preference, acidophilic microorganisms are primarily associated with places like acid mine drainage. So, mine drainage is the environment where you are most likely to encounter an acidophile.