Components of mortar are what?

• A. Sand, cement or lime and water
• B. Sand and water
• C. Cement and aggregate
• D. Water and lime

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is that mortar is a binding mix made from three parts: a binder, a bulk filler (aggregate), and water. The binder can be cement or lime, which provides the adhesive strength. The aggregate, usually sand, gives bulk, reduces shrinkage, and improves workability. Water activates the binder and allows the mixture to set and harden.

The best choice includes sand, a binder (cement or lime), and water, which covers both cementitious mortars and lime mortars. It’s this combination that creates a workable, cohesive material that can bind bricks or blocks.

Why the other options don’t fit: sand with water lacks the binder to hold the mix together; water with lime lacks the aggregate you need for bulk and strength; cement with aggregate would need water to cure and is not presented as a complete mortar mix in typical practice, since you also rely on a proper binder-water interaction and bulk.