Consider the following statements: Statement I: Studies indicate that carbon dioxide emissions from cement industry account for more than 5% of global carbon emissions. Statement II: Silica-bearing clay is mixed with limestone while manufacturing cement. Statement III: Limestone is converted into lime during clinker production for cement manufacturing. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Option (b) is correct because while both Statements II and III are factually accurate descriptions of cement manufacturing, only Statement III explains the high carbon emissions mentioned in Statement I; the chemical process of calcination (converting limestone into lime) releases CO2 as a direct byproduct. Option (a) is the most tempting wrong choice, but it is incorrect because Statement II merely identifies the raw materials used and does not explain the mechanism behind the industry's significant carbon footprint. The core concept being tested is the environmental impact of industrial chemistry, specifically the greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the calcination process in the cement industry.