Final answer:
The key element of safety-critical systems is substitution, the provision of multiple interchangeable components to perform a single function in order to cope with failures and errors.
Step-by-step explanation:
The key element being referred to in this question is substitution. Substitution is a principle used in safety-critical systems to provide multiple interchangeable components to perform a single function. This allows the system to cope with failures and errors by replacing any unavailable or inferior component with an alternative, possibly superior one.