Final answer:
Silicon is the element provided to Sanjay by Ms. Richards, based on its abundance and significance in the composition of Earth's crust, making up nearly one-fourth of its mass. The correct answer is option 4) Silicon
Step-by-step explanation:
Based on the information provided, the element from Earth's crust that Ms. Richards gave to Sanjay is most likely silicon. This is inferred from the details that silicon makes up nearly one-fourth of the mass of the Earth's crust, being second in abundance only to oxygen. The Earth's crust consists predominantly of minerals that include the silicon-oxygen tetrahedron network, forming various structures that are integral to most common rocks, soil, clays, and other materials such as bricks, ceramics, and glasses.
The significance of silicon in the Earth's crust is further supported by the fact that it constitutes around 28% by weight of the crust, making it a major constituent following oxygen. Moreover, options 1, 2, and 3 (aluminum, calcium, and iron) are less likely to be the element provided to Sanjay by Ms. Richards since aluminum, though abundant, is not as prevalent as silicon, and calcium and iron are further down the order of abundance in Earth's crust respectively.