Would omitting the sterile mineral oil affect the specificity of the decarboxylase test?

Yes,omitting the mineral oil could result in a decarboxylase-positive organism giving a false negative result,it promotes fermentation by locking out oxygen and prevents false alkalinization,because ,it will not produce enough,acid from fermentation to force, decarboxylase activity. There will a reduction in the sensitivity of the test. Fermentation occurs when mineral oil seals the medium of oxygen,thereby promotes glucose fermentation. It produces, acid and the low pH helps produce the decarboxylase enzymes.

when a reversible reaction is occurring in both directions at the same rate; the products and reactants do not change in concentration. a chemical reaction where the compound is broken into its constituent parts.

b. lithosphere, asthenosphere, mesosphere   is the answer most likely