Final answer:
Toxic industrial materials can exist in three physical states: solid, liquid, and gas, with each state affecting the method of environmental contamination and remediation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The three physical states that toxic industrial materials can exist in are solid, liquid, and gas. These states of matter can be exemplified by a wide variety of industrial chemicals, such as heavy metals like lead and mercury which are often found in solid forms, mercury can also be a liquid at room temperature. Certain toxic chemicals, like chlorine, are typically found in a gaseous state under standard conditions. It's important to understand the physical state of a material since it influences how the material can spread in the environment and how it might be contained or cleaned up.For example, solid toxic materials may settle on the ground and can be contained by physically removing the contaminated soil. Liquids may seep into the groundwater requiring different remediation techniques, such as pumping and treating the water. Gaseous toxic materials can disperse into the atmosphere, making them challenging to capture and requiring air quality control methods like filters or scrubbers.