Which of the following best describes an abiotic factor?

An abiotic factor refers specifically to non-living components of an ecosystem that influence the life and survival of organisms within that environment. This includes elements such as temperature, water, sunlight, soil, and minerals. Understanding abiotic factors is crucial because they serve as the foundational aspects of an ecosystem that shape the living conditions for all biotic factors, which are the living organisms present.

In contrast, the other options focus on living aspects or interactions that do not define abiotic factors. For instance, living organisms in an ecosystem are categorized as biotic factors. Mutualistic relationships and biological interactions among species also pertain to the dynamics of life and are considered biotic interactions. Thus, the best description of an abiotic factor is that it is a non-living component of the environment, which directly contributes to the ecological balance and influences the interaction between living organisms.