Vidyamandir Classes Environmental Chemistry

Environmental Chemistry

ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION Section - 1

Environmental Chemistry is the science of the chemical phenomena taking place in the atmosphere and deals with the
study of the origin, transport, reactions, effects and fates of chemical species in the environment.
Pollution may be defined as the excessive discharge or addition of undesirable substances into the environment, thereby
adversely altering the natural quality of the environment, and causing damage to human, plants or animal life. The term
environment includes the air, water and land. A pollutant may be defined as an unwanted or undesirable substance added
to environment.

TYPES OF POLLUTIONS
Pollutants can be classified in two different ways as follows:

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY POLLUTANTS

(a) Primary pollutants are those which after their formation enter the environment and remain as such. For example, SO2,
nitric oxide, CO, hydrocarbon and particulate matter like soot and dust.
(b) Secondary pollutants are those harmful materials which are formed by chemical reactions between the primary pollutants
in the atmosphere or hydrosphere. For example, SO2 combines with oxygen in the air to produce a secondary pollutant
SO3. Further SO3 can react with water vapour in the air to form H2SO4, another secondary pollutant.

BIODEGRADABLE AND NON-BIODEGRADABLE POLLUTANTS

(a) Biodegradable pollutants are materials such as domestic sewage, cow-dung etc. which are easily decomposed by the
microorganisms either by the nature itself or by suitable treatment and thus are not harmful but if these are present in
excess in the environment they do not undergo degradation completely and thus pollutants.
(b) Non-biodegradable pollutants are materials such as mercury, aluminium, DDT etc. which do not undergo degradation
or degrade very slowly but their presence even in very small amounts in the environment is very harmful for the
humans as well as plants. They may react with other compounds present in the environment and produce even more
toxic compounds.
Man has polluted his environment by:
(i) uncontrolled growth in population
(ii) rapid industrialization
(iii) rapid urbanization, and
(iv) unscrupulous exploitation of nature, e.g., cutting trees. Beside man himself, natural phenomena like: (a) radioactivity;
(b) volcanic eruptions; (c) strong winds; (d) forest fires also cause pollution.
In an environmental pollution process a pollutant originates from a source and gets transported by air or water or is
dumped on land by man. Some of the pollutants may be absorbed (assimilated) or chemically changed by environment;
the rest build up to concentrations which are harmful to the environment.

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Source of Build up of
Pollutant Transport
Pollutant

Assimilation by
Damage
environment
A schematic representation of an environmental pollution process.

ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION Section - 2

Atmospheric pollution may be defined as the excessive discharge of undesirable foreign substances into the atmospheric
air, thereby adversely affecting the quality of air and causing damage to human, plant and animal lives.

TROPOSPHERIC POLLUTION
On the basis of the physical state, there are two major groups of air pollutants.
(a) Gases which mix with air, without settling down (b) Particulates

GASES WHICH FREELY MIX WITH AIR, WITHOUT SETTLING DOWN

These gases are:
(i) Sulphur dioxide (SO2): Main contributors of emissions of SO2 are thermal power plants, in which sulphur-
containing coal and diesel are burnt. Other sources are petroleum industry, oil refineries, sulphuric acid plants and
sulphide ore-roasting plants. The presence of this gas in the atmosphere causes cardiac and respiratory diseases
(e.g., asthma, bronchitis), eye-irritation, throat troubles spasm of the larynx and corrosion of metals. Some effects
of SO2 in atmosphere on plants cells are membrane damage, chlorophyll destruction, metabolism inhibition, growth-
yield reduction etc.

(ii) Sulphur trioxide (SO3) is formed by the oxidation of sulphur dioxide under the influence of sunlight.

2SO 2 (g)  O 2 (g) 

 2SO3 (g)
The uncatalysed oxidation of SO2- is slow, but polluted air often contains particulate matter that catalyzes the
oxidation. The reaction can be promoted by the presence of NO2 or H2O2. Even 1 ppm of SO3 in air causes severe
breathing discomfort and irritation to the respiratory tract.
Presence of SO2 and SO3 is destructive to vegetation. Both these oxides are converted in the atmosphere to
sulphurous and sulphuric acids in the presence of water vapour. The droplets of these acids remain suspended in
air. An acidic atmosphere has harmful effects on materials like cloth, paper, leather, buildings etc. It corrodes
marble, iron and steel and is destructive to the lungs’ tissue.

(iii) Hydrogen sulphide enters the decomposition of sewage waster or organic matter, and from various industries. It
is more poisonous than carbon monoxide and blackens lead paints and causes corrosion of metals.

(iv) Oxides of Nitrogen. The dry air at sea level contains nearly 78% nitrogen and 20% oxygen by volume. However,
these gases do not react with each other at ambient temperature. They combine only at high temperatures (>
1210ºC) to form significant quantities of nitrogen oxide (nitric oxide, NO). Such conditions are common in the
internal combustion engines, and in the coal and oil burning furnaces. Other sources are acid manufacturing and
explosives industry.

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Through nitric oxide (NO) is not considered to have a significant adverse affect on juman health even at elevated
concentrations, yet it is harmful since it is oxidized by oxygen and ozone to nitrogen dioxide (NO2) which is
extremely toxic to living tissues and harmful to paints, textiles, and metals.

2NO(g)  O 2 (g) 
 2NO 2 (g)
NO(g)  O3 (g) 
 NO 2 (g)  O 2 (g)

In sunlight, nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons form photochemical smog.

(v) Carbon monoxide (CO) is released by the partial combustion of fuels in automobiles, industries and oil-refineries.
It is estimated that about 290 million tones of CO is discharged into the atmosphere annually. Although it is
colourless, odourless, non-corrosive gas, yet CO is very toxic in nature. Carbon monoxide reacts with red pigment
(haemoglobin) in blood to form carboxy-haemoglobin, thereby impairing the transfer of oxygen to the tissues. This
can lead to symptoms such as exhaustion of body, headache, decrease in visual perception and serious effects on
the cardiovascular system. Prolonged exposure can even lead to death. CO severely affects the cardio-vascular
system, thereby causing heart diseases.

(vi) Carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere by burning of fuels such as coal, wood and petroleum products.
CO2 is also released into air by the respiration by plants and animals. The concentration of CO2 is also increased
by deforestation. The plants use CO2 for photosynthesis and release oxygen. The cutting down of forests makes
the environment unhealthy by the decreasing the concentration of oxygen. The excess of CO2 in the atmosphere
causes respiratory disorders and suffocation.
CO2 gas plays a major role in heating up of the atmosphere due to trapping of infrared rays from the sun. This is
called greenhouse effect.

(vii) Hydrogen fluoride is discharged from phosphate fertilizer industry, aluminium industry, metallurgical processes
and brick-kilns. It causes irritation, bone, tooth and skeleton disorders and respiratory diseases. It also causes
‘fluorosis’ in cattle.

(viii) Hydrocarbons: High concentration (5,000–10,000 ppm) of hydrocarbons effects lungs and cause swelling when
they enter the lungs. Inhalation of aromatic hydrocarbon vapours cause greater ill effects like irritation to mucus
membrane, respiratory problems, lungs cancer, affect nervous system and may even lead to death. Organic
compounds which affect DNA and cell growth and induce cancer and known as carcinogens.

PARTICULATE
Particulates are the tiny solid or liquid particles suspended in air. The particles are usually individually invisible to the naked
eye but collectively these small particles can form a haze that restricts visibility. The nature and extent of air pollution
caused by particulates depends upon their concentration in air, size range, chemical nature and rate of settling. Particulates
in the atmosphere may be viable or non-viable. The viable particulates are the minute living organisms like bacteria, fungi,
moulds, algae, etc. that are dispersed in atmosphere. It is noteworthy that human beings are allergic to some of the fungi
found in air. Fungi can also cause diseases in plants. Non-viable particulates are formed either by the breakdown of larger
materials or by condensation of minute particles and droplets. Some important particulate pollutants are:

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(i) Dust. Dust consists of fine particles produced during crushing, grinding and attrition of solid materials. Non-
viable dust particulates consist of ground limestone. pulverized coal, cement, fly ash, silica dust etc. Main sources
of dust are mines, furnaces, power houses, vehicular traffic, pottery and ceramics factories, forest fires, natural
winds, combustion operations, material handling and earth movements, engine exhausts, rubber tyre abrasions
and other activities.
Atmospheric dust causes allergic and respiratory diseases. Dust also causes corrosion and soiling.

(ii) Smoke is composed of tiny particles of carbon, ash, oil etc. formed by incomplete combustion of fuel due to
insufficient supply of air or faulty method of burning. The major sources of smoke emissions are locomotives,
domestic wood, coal-grates, industrial power plants, open fires, refuge incinerators, automobile engines, furnaces
etc.
Smoke has many harmful effects viz., loss of fuel value through imperfect combustion, spoiling clothing and
exterior finish of buildings. The incidence of cancer is being increasingly related with smoke.

(iii) Mists are produced by particles of spray liquids and condensation of vapours in air. For example, portions of
herbicides and insecticides that miss their targets and travel in the air form mists.

(iv) Fumes are condensed vapours. Fumes of metals like mercury, cadmium etc, are well known particulates.
The metallurgical fumes and alkali fumes also fall in this category.
As mentioned earlier, the particle size influences the effects of particulate pollutants. The rate of penetration being
inversely proportional to the size of the particles, the coarse particulate matter with size greater than 5 microns are
likely to lodge in the nasal passages and the smaller particles are more likely to penetrate into the lungs. A number
of such fine particulates are carcinogens.

(v) Smog is a mixture of smoke and fog in suspended droplet form. There are two types of smog:
(a) London smog is coal smoke plus fog. The smog is mainly SO2 + SO3 mixture and humidity. It is generally
bad in the early morning hours and becomes worse after sunrise. Due to sunlight induced oxidation of
SO2 to SO3, followed by reaction with humidity, it yields sulphuric acid. Such a smog causes bronchial
irritation and also ‘acid rain’. Smog also causes poor atmospheric visibility.
(b) Los Angles smog (photochemical smog) is not related to smoke or fog. The oxides of nitrogen (NO + NO2)
along with CO2, H2O, CO and unburnt hydrocarbon particles (emitted from automobile exhausts) and also
SO2 causes Los Angles smog. The most important reaction is dissociation of NO2 in UV light of sunlight.
In I.C. engines
N2 (g)  O2 (g) 
 2NO(g) or 2NO(g)  O2 (g) 
 2NO2 (g)
or furnaces

UV light
NO2 (g)  NO(g)  [O] O2 (g)  [O] 
 O3 (g)

Hydrocarbons +O3, O2, O, NO2, NO 

 Peroxides, peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN), formaldehyde, ozone
aldehyde, acrolein etc. (Oxidized hydrocarbons)

3CH 4  2O3 
 3CH 2  O  3H 2 O

Acrolein and peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN) are particularly noxious.

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CH 2  CHCH  O CH 3COONO 2
Acrolein ||
O
Peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN)

These oxidized hydrocarbons and ozone in the presence of humidity cause photochemical smog. It is worst in the sunshine
with peaks in the after noon and dissipates at night.

Effects of Photochemical Smog

Photochemical smog, apart from the brownish haze that it causes, also adversely affects living tissue and animate materials.
The three main components of photochemical smog are nitrogen oxides, ozone and organic derivatives such as acrolein,
formaldehyde, PAN etc.

(A) Effects of nitrogen oxides: Nitrogen oxides cause respiratory illness among children, is unpleasant in odour, leads to
irritation of eyes and lungs congestion.

(B) Effects of ozone : Ozone has the following marked hazardous effects:
(i) Pungent smelling, smog-produced ozone is toxic.
(ii) It can cause coughing, wheezing, bronchial constriction and irritation to the respiratory mucous system.
(iii) It can damage vegetation and reduce plant growth and crop productivity.
(iv) Rubber has a high affinity for ozone and is cracked and aged by it.

(C) Effects of organic derivatives

(i) PAN has high toxicity to plants, attacking younger leaves and causing ‘bronzing’ and ‘glazing’ of their surfaces.
(ii) Peroxyl nitrates and aldehydes are eye irritants.

Control of Photochemical Smog.

Smog can be controlled by decreasing the nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbon levels of the air by providing catalytic
converters in the automobiles. These reduce the quantity of hydrocarbons as well as unwanted products (like NO2) from
automobile exhausts. These catalysts get poisoned by lead compounds (like tetraethyl lead – TEL) and thus such automobiles
require unleaded petrol.

ACID RAIN
Various industries, automobiles etc. release acidic oxides (such as sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, hydrogen chloride
etc.) into the atmosphere. These oxides dissolve in moisture present in atmosphere to form corresponding acids, which
then fall on earth as acid rain. Thus:
SO 2  H 2 
 H 2SO3 ; 2SO 2  O 2  2H 2O 
 2H 2SO 4
(Sulphurous acid) (Sulphuric acid)

4NO 2  2H 2 O  O 2 
 4 HNO3 ; HCl(g)  H 2 O 
 HCl(aq)
(Nitric acid) (Hydrochloric acid)

In thickly populated cities, internal combustion engines of automobiles emit pollutants like CO2, CO, hydrocarbons etc.;
while large number of industries around them emit pollutants like CO2, CO, SO2, SO3, NO, NO2 etc. in the atmospheric air,
which are absorbed by moisture present in air to form various acids. Consequently, more acid-rains are likely to occur in
such areas.

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Acid rains have many harmful effects as follows:

1. In mist form, it causes direct damage to plant leaves.
2. Lowering of pH of rain-water due to acid-rain changes the rate of metabolism of organisms.
3. It causes irritation to eyes and muscles membrane.
4. It accelerates the rate of corrosion of metals.
5. It causes damage to building, rocks, etc. thereby leading to their faster weathering.
6. It dissolves the salts in the soil (e.g., CaCO3) and metals (like aluminium) which pass into ponds, lakes, rivers etc.
where they cause damage to aquatic life.

STRATOSPHERIC POLLUTION
Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming:
The phenomenon of entrapping the heat radiation in a suitable enclosure is called greenhouse effect. It is consequence of
the variation of λmax with temperature or the Wien’s law.
Suppose, we have a glass box on which the solar radiation are incident. The λmax for the sun is about 4.83 × 10–7m, because
the temperature of the sun is about 6000 K. These radiation with long wavelength pass through the glass and are absorbed
by the objects, say, plants placed inside the box. The temperature in the green house may be around 300 K and λmax at this
temperature λmax is about 96.6 × 10–7 m. This wavelength lies in the infrared region. Thus, the objects inside the greenhouse
emit infrared radiation which get entrapped and the greenhouse warms up.

Carbon dioxide. The observed atmospheric concentration of CO2 is 30% above pre-industrial levels and the level continues
to increase. Fossil fuel consumption contributes to increased concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide.

Methane. The observed atmospheric concentration of methane is more than 100% above pre-industrial level and the
concentration has increased over recent decades.

Nitrous oxide. The observed atmospheric concentration is about 10% above pre-industrial levels.

Chlorofluorocarbons. Pre-industrial concentrations of CFCs were virtually zero. The observed increases in atmospheric
concentrations are solely due to human activities. The natural removal processes for most CFCs take a time of about a
century.

Chemically active gasses. The concentrations of CO, nitrogen oxides, and non-methane hydrocarbons are higher than pre-
industrial values over large regions, The gases can induce changes in the life and concentrations of some gases, including
ozone and methane through a series of chemical interactions.

High altitude pollution and ozone depletion

Ozone prevalent in the stratosphere (about 20 km – 50 km above MSL) filters any harmful UV light from sun’s radiation.
There are different possibilities by which the protective ozone gets depleted. Freons (CFCs) are used as refrigerant gases,
aerosol sprays etc. (insecticide, deodorants, hair sprays, shaving creams). The CFCs trigger depletion of ozone by absorbing
UV light. Atomic chlorine from volcanic eruption can also reduce ozone concentration.

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UV
CF2 Cl2 
 CF2 Cl  Cl

Cl  O3 
 ClO  O 2

ClO  O  Cl  O 2
_______________________
O3  O  2O 2 _____
___________________

Another possibility is the emission of NO from supersonic jets

1500C
N 2  O 2 
supersonic jets
 2NO

NO  O3 
 NO2  O2

NO 2  O  NO  O 2
__________________________
O 3 O  2O 2
___________________________

The ozone depletion caused by such high altitude air pollution may lead to skin cancer, suppression of immune system of
human and inhibition of plant growth.

WATER POLLUTION Section - 3

Polluted water is defined as water that does not meet the minimum standards for any function and purposes for which it
would be suitable in its natural state. Water pollution may be defined as any alteration in the physical chemical and biological
properties of water, as well as contamination with any foreign substance which would constitute a health hazard or otherwise
decreases the utility of water.

(a) Domestic sewage. The release of huge quantities of municipal and domestic wastes by drains into the canals and rivers
causes the water pollution.
Disposal of sewage into rivers and lakes causes several undesirable effects, e.g., the spread of water-borne diseases
like dysentery, cholera, typhoid, hookworm infections, enteroviral infections etc.

Effects of impurities in water

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(b) Industrial waters. Water gets polluted by acids, alkalies, detergents, soaps, phenols, cyanides, copper, zinc, lead,
mercury, pesticides, insecticides and fungicides etc., which are released from chemical industries. Pollution is also
caused by waster of industries like leather tanneries, sugar, paper, textile, steel mills, distilleries, oil refineries etc. Water
containing toxic substances damages the biological activity and kills useful organisms.
(c) Exposure to atomic explosion and processing of radioactive materials near the sources of water also causes water
pollution.
(d) Clay, ores, fine particles of soil on which rain water travels are added to water sources and they all cause water
pollution.
(e) Agricultural discharge such as pesticides, insecticides, fertilizers, manure slurry, drainage from plants and animal
debris, farm wastes etc. also cause water pollution. Agricultural fertilizers and detergents content large quantities of
phosphates and nitrates which when released into aquatic system encourage the formation of algae, which reduces the
dissolved oxygen content in it. This process is called eutrophication. Due to eutrophication, respiration for the fish
living in the polluted water body is affected an hence they die.

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(f) By bacteria, viruses, algae and other microorganisms. These cause bacterial pollution which is due to the presence of
dead bodies of man, wild and domestic animals, birds etc. in water bodies. They degrade the quality of water. Such
contaminated water supplies frequently lead to infections like dysentery, cholera, typhoid, gastroenteritis etc.

(g) Acid-polluted Water (pH < 3). This is deadly to most forms of aquatic life. Water down-stream from a mine may be
contaminated by acid mine drainage, the result of microbial oxidation of discarded waste material at the mine site. Acid
mine water principally contains sulphuric acid produced by the oxidation of iron pyrites (FeS2). Industrial wastes and
acid rain may also contribute to the acidity of natural water.

IMPORTANCE OF DISSOLVED OXYGEN IN WATER

The concentration of dissolved oxygen in water is of vital importance for the support of aquatic life. The fish growth is
inhibited if the dissolved concentration of oxygen in water is below 6 ppm. The lower the concentration of dissolved
oxygen, the more polluted is the water sample. Oxygen reaches water through two sources. The first is that oxygen
dissolves at the surface of the water from the atmosphere. Still water takes up oxygen slowly whereas turbulent water takes
it up more rapidly since bubbles are often submerged. The second source of oxygen in water is from photosynthesis. Where
there are many aquatic green plants present, the water often becomes supersaturated with oxygen during the hours of
daylight. However, after dark, photosynthesis stops but the plants continue to respire and actually reduce the amount of
dissolved oxygen. Therefore, during a 24 hour period, some water samples have a considerable range of dissolved oxygen
levels.

BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMANDS

The presence of free oxygen is necessary for the livelihood of organisms, present in the sewage water. The aerobic action
continues, till the free oxygen is present. As the oxygen exhausts, the anaerobic action or putrefaction starts, when complex
organic compounds split up, setting free gases like CO2, H2S, NH3, CH4, etc. and foul smell starts coming. The length of
aerobic action can be increased, if the percentage of free oxygen in the sewage is increased in the beginning.

(a) Biological oxygen demand (BOD) of a sewage is defined as amount of free oxygen required for the biological
oxidation of the organic matter under aerobic conditions at 20ºC and for a period of 5 days. The unit of BOD is mg/litre
or ppm. An average sewage has a BOD of 100 to 105 mg/litre.

Importance of BOD: BOD is the most important in sewage treatment, as it indicates the amount of decomposable
organic matter in the sewage. Larger the concentration of decomposable organic matter, greater the BOD and
consequently more the or nuisance potential. BOD has special significance in pollution control, as it enables us to
determine the degree of pollution at any time in the sewage stream.

(b) Chemical oxygen demand (COD) is a measure of oxidizable impurities present in the sewage. Whereas, the BOD
measures the oxygen consumed by living organisms while assimilating organic matter present in the water; the COD is
a measure of both the biologically oxidizable and biologically inert organic matter such as cellulose. Consequently,
COD values are, generally, higher than BOD values. The main advantage the COD value can be employed to estimate
approximate BOD values. The main advantage the COD is that its determination takes about 3 hours, compared to more
than 5 days for the BOD determination.

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POLLUTION DUE TO RADIATION

Bhopal Gas Tragedy
The Bhopal gas tragedy, which took, place in India on December 2nd, 1984 is a case of serious air pollution in which MIC
(methyl isocyanate) gas released from a pesticide manufacturing plant of Union Carbide caused death of approximately
3200 persons. This gas caused irritation of eyes, followed by blindness and various lung diseases causing death.
One of the tanks containing MIC blasted due to high pressure. Small amount of impure water was seeped into the storage
tank which hydrolysed MIC or polymerized it. Both the reactions being exothermic caused the release of MIC and its clouds
rose after the Bhopal city.

SOIL POLLUTION Section - 4

The unfavorable alteration of soil by addition or removal of substances and factors which decrease soil productivity and
adversely affects the quality of plant and animal life is called soil or land pollution. Most of the land pollution is caused by
pesticides and other chemicals which are added to soil to improve the crop yield. A pesticide often poisons more organisms
than those intended. Some of these poisons pass through food chains and eventually reach harmful proportions. Solid
wastes like garbage, building material, sludge, ash etc. are another cause of land pollution.

(i) Insecticides are chemical substances used for the control of insects to curb disease (e.g., malaria, yellow fever etc.)
and protect crops. Chlorinated hydrocarbons like DDT, BHC, chlordane, aldrin etc. are examples of insecticides.
Chlorinated hydrocarbons are stable in environment, toxic to insects in small amounts but much lesser to humans.
Being organic compounds, they are not very soluble. Besides being toxic, these compounds are persistent and mobile
in the ecosystem (over dust particles in air and over organic matter in water). The chlorinated hydrocarbons are fat
soluble and thus tend to accumulate inside living organism. Their concentration per unit weight of the organism also
rises with rise in tropic level due to the phenomenon of biological amplification. The biological amplification thus
affects many non-target organisms and may prove fatal to higher trophic level organisms especially fish and bird.
Because of their persistent nature, many of these insecticides have been phased out of use.

(ii) Herbicides or weedicides are used to kill weeds. Sodium chlorate, NaClO3 and sodium arsenite, Na3AsO3 were
commonly used as herbicides in the first half of 20th century. However, their use has now been discontinued since
these compounds, particularly inorganic arsenic compounds, are toxic to mammals. Organic herbicides have now
replaced inorganic compounds. They are much more toxic to certain types of plants then to others. Organic herbicides
such as triazine are used for killing broad-leaved weeds growing in cereal crops like maize and dalpon is used for killing
grasses in broad-leaved crops.

(iii) Fungicides are used to counter the growth of fungi. Fungi are plants without chlorophyll and therefore, cannot use
solar energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into carbohydrates. Fungi live as saprophytes on decaying organic
matter or as parasites of living organisms. Thus they are considered to be against human interests. Organic compounds
of mercury have been used as fungicides but they are unsafe. These compounds undergo degradation in soil. Many
human deaths in Iraq (1971-72) resulted from the people eating bread made from grain that had been treated with the
fungicide methyl mercury.

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GREEN CHEMISTRY Section - 5

Green chemistry is the design of chemical products and processes that reduce or eliminate the use and generation of
hazardous substances.

Green chemistry is environment friendly, linking the design of chemical products and processes with their impacts on
human health and the environment.

Principles of Green Chemistry

(i) Prevention. It is better to prevent waste than to treat or clean-up the waste after it has been created.

(ii) Atom Economy. Synthetic methods should be designed to maximize the incorporation of all materials used in the
process into the final product i.e., there should least amount of by-products.

(iii) Less Hazardous Chemical Synthesis. Wherever practicable, synthetic methods should be designed to use and
generate substances that pose little or no toxicity to human health and the environment.

(iv) Designing Safer Chemicals. Chemical products should be designed to effect their desired function while minimizing
their toxicity.

(v) Safer Solvents and Auxiliaries. The use of auxiliary substances (e.g., solvents, separation agents etc.) should be
made avoided wherever possible and innocuous when used.

(vi) Design for Energy Efficiency. Energy requirements of chemical processes should be recognized for their
environmental and economic impacts; and the energy requirements should be minimized. If possible, synthetic
methods should be conducted at ambient temperature and pressure.

(vii) Use of Renewable Feedstocks. A raw material or feedstock should be renewable. Whenever technically and
economically practicable.

(viii) Reduce Derivatives. Unnecessary derivatization (use of blocking groups, protection/ deprotection, temporary
modification of physical/chemical processes) should be minimized or avoided if possible, because such steps
require additional reagents and can generate waste.

(ix) Catalysis. Catalytic reagents are superior to stoichiometric reagents.

(x) Design for Degradation. Chemical products should be designed so that at the end of their function, they break
down into innocuous degradation products and do not persist in the environment.

(xi) Real-time analysis for Pollution Prevention. Analytical methodologies need to be further developed to allow for
real-time, in-process monitoring and control prior to the formation of hazardous substances.

(xii) Inherently Safer Chemistry for Accident prevention. Substances and the form of a substance used in a chemical
process should be chosen to minimize the potential for chemical accidents, including releases, explosions and
fires.

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ACHIEVEMENT OF GREEN CHEMISTRY

The concept of green chemistry has inspired chemists from all over the world for using their creative and innovative skills
to develop new processes, synthetic methods, analytical tools, reaction conditions, catalysts, etc. A lot of success has
been achieved on this front. The processes developed include among others.
(i) Development of a new method of synthesizing ibuprofen in 99% yield, avoiding the usage of large quantities of
solvents and wastes associated with the traditional stoichiometric use of auxiliary chemicals when affecting
chemical conversions.

(ii) Development of a method for ‘catalytic dehydrogenation of diethylalumina in which a new technique allows the
production of an environmentally friendly herbicide in a less dangerous way. This technology represents a major
breakthrough because it avoids the use of cyanide and formaldehyde. It is safer to operate, produces high overall
yield and has fewer process steps.

(iii) Development of processes using carbon dioxide as the blowing agent, for manufacture of polystyrene foam sheet
packaging material. This technology allows elimination of chlorofluorocarbon blowing agents, chemicals that
contribute to ozone depletion, global warming and ground level smog.

(iv) Designing of a safer marine antifouling compound ‘Sea-nine’ that degrades far more rapidly than organo-tins
which persist in the marine environment and cause pollutions problems.

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FUNDAMENTAL
1. Water is often treated with chlorine to: 10. Which of the following is not a greenhouse gas?
(1) Increase oxygen content (1) CO2
(2) Kill germs (2) CH4
(3) Remove hardness (3) Chlorofluorocarbons
(4) Remove suspended particles (4) O2

2. Most hazardous metal pollutant of automobile exhaust is: 11. Bio-degradable pollutant is:
(1) Mercury (2) Lead (1) Domestic waste (2) DDT
(3) Cadmium (4) Copper (3) Mercury salt (4) Aluminium foil

3. Ozone hole refers to: 12. Photochemical smog always contains:

(1) Hole in ozone layers (1) O3 (2) CO
(2) Reduction in thickness of ozone layer in (3) CO2 (4) CH4
stratosphere 13. Methane gas producing field is:
(3) Reduction of thickness of ozone in troposphere (1) Wheat field (2) Paddy field
(4) Increase concentration of ozone (3) Cotton field (4) Groundnut field
4. Which of the following is not considered to be a pollutant ? 14. Phosphate pollution is caused by:
(1) NO2 (2) CO2 (1) Weathering of phosphate rocks only
(3) O3 (4) CxHy (2) Agricultural fertilizers
5. The aromatic compounds present as particulates are: (3) Phosphate rocks and sewage
(4) Sewage and agricultural fertilizers
(1) Benzene (2) Toluene
(3) Nitrobenzene (4) Polycyclic hydrocarbons 15. Measurement of rate of oxygen utilisation by a unit volume
6. London smog is found in: of water over a period of time is to measure
(1) Summer during day time (1) Fermentation
(2) Biogas generation
(2) Summer during morning time
(3) Biosynthetic pathway
(3) Winter during morning time
(4) Biological oxygen demand
(4) Winter during day time

7. Photochemical smog is formed in: 16. Which of the following is a secondary pollutant?
(1) Summer during morning time (1) NO (2) Phenols
(2) Summer during day time (3) SO2 (4) CO
(3) Winter during morning time 17. Chlorofluorocarbon releases a chemical harmful to ozone.
(4) Winter during day time The chemical is:
8. Ozone layer is present in: (1) Fluorine
(1) Troposphere (2) Stratosphere (2) Chlorine
(3) Mesosphere (4) Exosphere (3) Nitrogen peroxide
(4) Sulphur dioxide
9. BOD5 is:
(1) Waste decomposed in 5 days 18. Biodegradable pollutant is:
(2) Oxygen used in 5 days (1) Plastic (2) Asbestos
(3) Microorganisms killed in 5 days (3) Sewage (4) Mercury
(4) Dissolved oxygen left after 5 days

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19. Which of the following statement is true about ozone 25. Coal burning hearths or stoves produces a hazardous
layer? gas which suffocates living beings even to death:
(1) It is harmful because ozone is dangerous to living (1) SO2 (2) CO2
organism (3) CO (4) H2S
(2) It is beneficial because oxidation reaction can 26. The lowest pH due to acid rain is:
proceed faster in the presence of ozone (1) 2.1 (2) 2.4
(3) It is beneficial because ozone cuts-off the ultraviolet (3) 3 (4) 4.5
radiation of the sun 27. Classical smog is:
(4) It is harmful because ozone cuts out the important (1) Dark brown
radiation of the sun which are vital for (2) Yellow brown
photosynthesis. (3) Los Angeles smog
20. Ozone is an important constituent of stratosphere because (4) Smog with secondary pollutants
it: 28. Which of the following is secondary air pollutant?
(1) Prevents the formation of smog over large cities (1) SO2 (2) CO2
(2) Removes poisonous gases of the atmosphere by (3) PAN (4) Aerosol
reacting with them 29. Greenhouse effect with respect to global climate refers to:
(3) Absorbs ultraviolet radiation which is harmful to (1) Cooling of earth
human life (2) Warming of earth
(4) Destroys bacteria which are harmful to human life (3) Increased rainfall and greenery
(4) Desertification
21. Incomplete combustion of petrol or diesel oil in automobile
30. Which important green house gas other than methane is
engines can be best detected by testing the fuel gases for
being produced from the agricultural fields?
the presence of:
(1) Arsine (2) SO2
(1) Carbon monoxide and water vapour
(2) Carbon monoxide (3) Ammonia (4) Nitrous oxide
(3) Nitrogen dioxide (4) Sulphur dioxide 31. The CO2 content in the atmospheric air is approximately:
(1) 0.034% (2) 0.34%
22. Surface water contains:
(3) 3.34% (4) 6.5%
(1) Salt + organic matter
32. DDT is considered harmful because:
(2) Only salt
(1) It is organochlorine compound
(3) Organic matter (4) Suspended impurity
(2) It is pesticide
23. When rain is accompanied by a thunderstorm, the (3) It is non-biodegradable
collected rain water will have a pH value. (4) It is easily degradable
(1) Slightly higher than that when the thunderstorm is 33. Ozone in the stratosphere is deleted by:
not there (1) CF2Cl2 (2) C7F16
(2) Uninfluenced by occurrence of thunderstorm (3) C6H6Cl6 (4) C6F6
(3) Which depends upon the amount of dust in air 34. The term biosphere is used for the zone of the earth where
(4) Slightly lower than that of rain water without life exists:
thunderstorm (1) On the lithospere
24. Ganga Action Plan to restore the quality of the river Ganga (2) In the hydrosphere
was launched in: (3) In the lithosphere and hydrosphere
(1) 1988 (2) 1992 (4) In the lithosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere
(3) 1985 (4) 1981

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35. Noosphere is synonyms of: 44. Which of the following atmospheric pollutants is not
(1) Environment (2) Atmosphere produced by the exhaust of motor vehicle in Delhi?
(3) Hydrosphere (4) Stratosphere (1) SO2 (2) Hydrocarbon gases
36. When biosphere turns into human dominated environment (3) Fly ash (4) CO
it is called: 45. Pollution can be controlled by :
(1) Noosphere (2) Troposphere (1) Sewage treatment (2) Checking atomic blasts
(3) Mesosphere (4) Man sphere (3) Manufacturing electrically operated vehicles
37. The living organisms on or around the earth consitute: (4) All the above
(1) Biome (2) Biosphere 46. If water pollution continues at its present rate, it will
(3) Community (4) Biocoenosis eventually:
38. What is the correct sequence of atmospheric layers (1) Stop water cycle
starting from earth? (2) Prevent precipitation
(1) Stratosphere troposphere, mesosphere, (3) Make oxygen molecules unavailable to water
thermosphere plants.
(2) Troposphere, startosphere, mesosphere, (4) Make nitrate molecules unavailable to water
thermosphere plants.
(3) Mesosphere, troposphere, stratosphere, 47. Recent reports of acid rains industrial cities are due to the
thermosphere effect of atmospheric pollution by:
(4) Thermosphere, mesophere, stratosphere, (1) Excessive release of NO2 and SO2 by burning of
troposphere fossil fuels.
39. Which of the following is the non conventional source of (2) Excessive release of CO2 by burning of fuel like
energy? wood and charcoal, cutting of forests and
(1) Coal (2) Petroleum increased animal population.
(3) Electricity from nuclear power plants (3) Excessive release of NH3 by industrial plants
(4) Solar radiations and coal gas.
40. The population of India is 15% of the world but its annual (4) Excessive release of CO in atmosphere by
energy consumption is only: incomplete combustion of cock, charcoal and
(1) 0.2% (2) 2.0% other carbonaceous fuels in pancity of oxygen,
(3) 10% (4) 25% 48. Pollution is a change in physical, chemical or biological
41. The main aim of plant conservation is: characters of our land and water that may be:
(1) To conserve the necessary ecological activities (1) Desirable and harmful to human
and life supporting systems (2) Desirable and useful to human
(2) To conserve species diversity and range of genetic (3) Undesirable and harmful to human
meterial (4) undesirable and useful to human
(3) Both the above 49. Domestic waste will lead to:
(4) None of the above (1) Biodegradable pollution
42. Which will not cause any atmospheric pollution? (2) Nondegradable pollution
(1) Hydrogen (2) Sulphur dioxide (3) Thermal pollution of soil
(3) Carbon dioxide (4) Carbon monoxide (4) Air pollution
43. Which of the following is the main factor of water pollution
50. The major source of BOD in the river Ganga is:
(1) Smoke (2) Industrial waste
(1) Leaf litter (2) Fishes
(3) Detergent (4) Ammonia
(3) Human waste (4) Aquatic plants

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ENABLE
1. Peeling of ozone umbrella is due to: 9. The gas responsible for causing Bhopal tragedy was
(1) CFCs (2) PAN (1) Methyl isocyanate
(3) CO2 (4) Coal burning (2) Potassium isothiocyanate
2. Which one is not a chemical pollutant? (3) Sodium isothiocyanate
(1) Lead compounds (2) Mercuric salts (4) Ethyl isothiocyanate
(3) Pesticides (4) Domestic wastes 10. Spraying of DDT produces pollution of:
(1) Air (2) Air and water
3. Which one is not correct? Greenhouse effect.
(3) Air and soil (4) Air, water and soil
(1) is due to high concentration of CO2 in atmosphere
(2) is influenced by gases such as CH4, O3 and 11. Which of the following is the secondary pollutant?
chlorofluorocarbons (1) CO (2) PAN
(3) would result in the warming up of the earth (3) SO2 (4) aerosol
(4) would result in lowering the level of oceans due to 12. As it passes into food chain, the concentration of DDT:
high evaporation (1) remains same (2) decreases
4. Acid rain is caused due to increase in the concentration (3) increases (4) unpredictable
of ….. in the atmosphere. 13. If there was no carbon dioxide in earth’s atmosphere, the
(1) Ozone and dust (2) CO2 and CO temperature of the earth’s surface would be:
(3) SO3 and CO (4) SO2 and NO2 (1) same as present
5. Disease caused by eating fish found in water (2) less than the present
contaminated with industrial waste having mercury is: (3) more than the present
(1) Minamata disease (4) dependent on the amount of oxygen in the
atmosphere
(2) Bright’s disease (3) Hashimoto’s disease
(4) Osteosclerosis 14. Eutrophication is process which involves:
(1) depletion of ozone layer
6. If BOD of a river is high, it means that the river is
(2) increase in the concentration of ozone in water
(1) not polluted
(3) decrease in the conc. of dissolved oxygen in water
(2) very much polluted with inorganic chemicals
by algae
(3) very much polluted with organic chemical s which
(4) decrease in the level of SO2 in air
are decomposed by micro-organisms
(4) polluted with pesticides 15. Lead is considered as:
(1) Water pollutant (2) soil pollutant
7. The region of atmosphere that extends from 10 km to 50
(3) air pollutant (4) radioactive pollutant
km in altitude is called
(1) Troposphere (2) Mesophere 16. Which of the following is a mode of controlling pollution
(3) Stratosphere (4) Biosphere in big cities?
(1) Cleanliness and less use of insecticides
8. Green chemistry refers to (2) Proper disposal of organic wastes, sewage and
(1) Chemistry of plants industrial effluents
(2) Chemistry of green pigments (3) Broader roads and shifting of factories out of the
(3) Development of chemical products and processes residential areas
that are less harmful to humans (4) All the above
(4) Chemistry of green house effect

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17. What is not correct about green house effect? 24. The pollutants released by jet aeroplanes in the
(1) It results in global warming atmosphere as fluorocarbons are called:
(2) CO2 is one of the main chemical species (1) Photochemical oxidants
responsible for it (2) Photochemical reductants
(3) It results in lowering of levels of ocean over the (3) Aerosols
years (4) Physical pollutants
(4) CH4, O3, CFC also contribute to green house effect.
25. Photochemical oxidant PAN is formed:
18. The following reactions occur in the stratosphere: (1) by action of oxides of nitrogen on hydrocarbons
(1) O2 + UV ⎯→ O + O in the presence of sunlight.
(2) O2 + O ⎯→ O3 (2) by the action of carbon dioxide on the
(3) Cl + O3 ⎯→ ClO + O2 hydrocarbons in the presence of sunlight.
(4) All of these (3) by the action of hydrogen sulphide on
hydrocarbons in the presence of sunlight.
19. When rain is accompanied by a thunderstorm, the
(4) by the action of SO2 and hydrocarbons.
collected rain water will have pH?
(1) Slightly lower than that of rain water without 26. U.V. radiation from the sun causes a reaction in the
thunderstorm. atmosphere that leads to production of
(2) Slightly higher than that of rain water without (1) Fluorides (2) Carbon monoxide
thunderstorm. (3) Sulphur dioxide (4) Ozone
(3) Uninfluenced by occurrence of thunderstorm. 27. Increased asthmatic attacks in certain seasons are related
(4) Which depends on amount of dust in air. to:
20. Maximum desirable concentration of fluorides according (1) Inhalation of seasonal pollens
to international standards is: (2) Eating of seasonal vegetables
(1) 10-100 ppm (2) 1 ppm (3) Low temperature
(3) 100-200 ppm (4) 10-20 ppm (4) Wet and dry environment

21. Drained sewage has B.O.D. 28. Lung diseases are about four times more probable in urban
(1) More than that of water areas as compared to rural areas. This is due to the
(2) Less than that of water presence of which of the following in atmosphere?
(3) Equal to that of water (1) CO2 (2) NO2
(4) None of the above (3) O2 (4) N2

22. Burning of fossil fuel is the main source of which of the 29. Fluorosis, the bone disease, is caused by the presence
following pollutant? of :
(1) Nitrogen oxide (2) Nitric oxide (1) pesticides in water (2) fluorides in water
(3) Nitrous oxide (4) Sulphur dioxide (3) carbon monoxide in air (4) SO2 in air

23. The chemical species released by chlorofluorocarbons 30. Increasing skin cancer and high mutation rate are due to:
which are harmful to ozone is: (1) Acid rain (2) Ozone depletion
(1) Fluorine atoms (3) CO pollution (4) CO2 pollution
(2) Chlorine free radicals 31. Which of the following water pollutants encourage the
(3) Nitrogen dioxide molecules formation of algae?
(4) Chlorine molecules (1) Insecticides (2) Heavy metals
(3) Plant nutrients (4) Sediments

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 Environmental Chemistry Vidyamandir Classes

32. CFCl3 is responsible for the decomposition of ozone to 38. The point of temperature inversion between troposphere
oxygen. Which of the following reacts with ozone to form and ionosphere is called:
oxygen? (1) Stratopause (2) Mesopause
(1) Cl2 (2) Cl- (3) Tropopause (4) Ionopause
(3) F- (4) Cl
39. Match List-I with List-II and pick the correct matching
33. Photochemical oxidants such as PAN or PBN are formed from the codes given below:
(1) By action of nitrogen oxides on hydrocarbons in List -I List-II
the presence of light (A) Peroxyacyl nitrate 1. Waste incineration
(2) by the action of CO2 on hydrocarbons in the (B) Polycyclic 2. Global warming
presence of sunlight aromatic
(3) by action of hydrogen sulphide on hydrocarbons hydrocarbons
in the presence of sunlight (C) Dioxins 3. Photochemical Smog
(4) None of these (D) Indigo 4. Carcinogens
(E) IR Active 5. Vat Dye
34. Increased asthmatic attacks in certain seasons are related
molecules
to:
A B C D E
(1) eating seasonal vegetables
(1) 3 4 1 5 2
(2) wet and dry environment
(2) 1 2 3 4 5
(3) inhalation of seasonal pollen grains
(3) 3 5 1 2 4
(4) low and high temperatures
(4) 5 3 1 2 4
35. Acid rains are produced by:
40. Pick the correct statement.
(1) excess NO2 and SO2 from burning fossil fuels
(2) excess production of NH3 by industry and coal (1) CO which is the major pollutant resulting from the
gas combustion of fuels in automobiles plays a major
(3) excess release of CO by incomplete combustion role in photochemical smog
(4) excess formation of CO2 combustion and animal (2) Classical smog has an oxidizing character while
respiration photochemical smog has a reducing character
(3) Photochemical smog occurs in day time where as
36. CFCs release which of the following chemical that is
classical smog occurs in early morning hours
harmful to ozone?
(4) During formation of smog the level of ozone in the
(1) Fluorine radical (2) Chlorine radical
atmosphere goes down
(3) NO2 (4) SO2
41. Which of the following compounds is used in anti-knock
37. Which of the following statements about polar
compositions to prevent the deposition of oxides of lead
stratospheric clouds (PSCs) is not correct?
on spark plug, combustion chamber and exhaust pipe?
(1) Type -I clouds are formed at about -77oC and
contain solid HNO3.3H2O (1) Benzene (2) Glycol
(2) Type-II clouds are formed at about -95oC and (3) 1,2-dibromoethane(4) Glycerol
contain some ice 42. Which of these gases is not regarded as a pollutant?
(3) A tight whirlpool of wind called Polar Vortex is (1) NO2 (2) CO2
formed which surrounds Antarctica (3) SO2 (4) CO
(4) PSCs do not react with chlorine nitrate and HCl

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 Vidyamandir Classes Environmental Chemistry

43. Persons working in cement plants and limestone quarries (I) ‘X’ is mainly present in natural gas
are more prone to diseases like: (II) In A and B one is diamagentic and the other one is
(1) Asthma (2) Cancer paramagnetic
(3) Silicosis (4) Pneumoconiosis (III) ‘C’ can be identified by using the liquid element in
the d-block
44. Lungs and respiratory tract are badly affected due to:
(IV) ‘D’ causes acid rain
(1) O3 (2) CCl2F2
(1) All are correct (2) I, II, III
(3) SO2 (4) CO2
(3) II, III, IV (4) I, III, IV
45. Chemically peroxyacyl nitrate is:
49. Which of these pollutants is not emitted during a volcanic
(1) CH3COONO2 (2) CH3COOONO2
eruption?
(3) O2N-COOOCH3 (4) CH3COONO3
(1) SO2 (2) H2S
46. If CCl3F is present in the stratosphere it will react with:
(3) Hydrocarbons (4) CO
(1) O3 (2) N2
(3) CO2 (4) All of these 50. Consider the following statements:
(I) Zirconium-Alizarin dye is used for testing fluoride
47. Silicosis is caused by:
ions in water
(1) Acid rain
(II) Ozone layer is present in the atmosphere
(2) Depletion of O3
(III) The poisonous gas present in the exhaust fumes
(3) inhalation of aerosols
of automobiles is CO
(4) Inhalation of SO2
(IV) Taj mahal has been greatly affected by CO2 gas
48. Consider the follwing statements regarding compounds The correct statements are
that cause global warming. ‘X’ is a hydrocarbon, A and B (1) All of these (2) (I), (II) and (III)
are neutral oxides of nitrogen. ‘C’ is a blue colored gas
(3) (I), (III) and (IV) (4) (I) and (III)
and ‘D’ is released when H2S reacts with oxygen. Identify
the correct statement regarding X, A, B, C and D

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 Environmental Chemistry Vidyamandir Classes

EFFICIENT
1. Domestic waste predominantly contains: 10. The gas responsible for the 1984 Bhopal tragedy was:
(1) Hydrocarbons (1) Phosgene (2) MIC
(2) Non-biodegradable pollutants (3) COCl2 (4) None of these
(3) Biodegradable pollutants
11. The pollutant PAN stands for:
(4) None of the above
(1) Peroxy acetyl nitrite
2. The substance which produces resistance against (2) Peroxy acyl nitrate
carcinogens is: (3) Peroxy acetonitrile
(1) Tocoferol (2) Afflatoxin (4) Pyridine acetonitrile
(3) Streptomycin (4) Penicillic acid
12. Which of these is not a green house gas?
3. Drawback of use of DDT as a pesticide is: (1) CFC's (2) Methane
(1) It is less effective than others (3) H2 (4) CO2
(2) It is not easily/rapidly degraded in nature
13. Taj Mahal is threatened by pollution from:
(3) Its high cost
(4) It becomes ineffective after some time (1) Carbon dioxide (2) Oxygen
(3) Sulphur dioxide (4) Chlorine
4. World environment day is celebrated on:
(1) 4th May (2) 15th April 14. Acid rain occurs in areas where:
(3) 5th June (4) 15th March (1) There are big industries and the atmosphere is
polluted with SO2
5. Air pollutants that produce photochemical smog are:
(2) There are large plantation of pine plants
(1) Ozone , chlorine and sulphur dioxide
(3) Citrus plants are grown
(2) Oxygen , chlorine and nitric acid
(4) There are large plantation of eucalyptus
(3) Nitrous oxide, PAN and acrolein
(4) CO2, CO and SO2 15. Protections from ultraviolet rays coming from sun is
provided by:
6. Freon is a/an:
(1) SO2 (2) CO2
(1) Metal fluoride
(2) Iron containing polycyclic (3) Ozone (4) Oxygen
(3) Chloroflurocarbon 16. Trapping of reflected heat radiation by atmospheric dust,
(4) Ferrous sulphide pollutant water vapour, ozone, CO2 etc. is known as:
7. Burning of fossil fuels is the main source of pollution of: (1) Radioactive effect (2) Ozone layer effect
(1) Nitric oxide (2) Sulphur dioxide (3) Solar effect (4) Green house effect
(3) Nitrogen oxide (4) Nitrous oxide 17. UV radiations cause:
8. Which of the following is not a general pollutant of (1) Liver cancer (2) Skin cancer
atmosphere? (3) Mouth cancer (4) Blood cancer
(1) Hydrocarbons (2) SO3
18. Green house effect is related to:
(3) CO2 (4) SO2
(1) Cultivation of green plants
9. PAN (Peroxy acyl nitrate), an important constituent of (2) Cultivation of vegetables in houses
photochemical smog is a: (3) Global warming
(1) Quantitative pollutant (4) Global green algae
(2) Primary pollutant (3) Natural pollutant
(4) Secondary pollutant

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 Vidyamandir Classes Environmental Chemistry

19. Ozone layer of upper atmosphere is being destroyed by: 29. A persistent insecticide is:
(1) Photochemical oxidants/O2 and CO2 (1) Chlorinated hydrocarbons
(2) Chlorofluorocarbon (2) Organophosphates
(3) Smog (4) SO2 (3) Carbamates (4) Thiocarbamates
20. Ultraviolet radiations from sunlight causes a reaction that 30. Noise pollution is measured in:
produces: (1) Nanometres (2) Decibles
(1) Ozone (2) Fluorides (3) Fathoms (4) Hertz
(3) Carbon monoxide (4) Sulphur dioxide
31. A biodegradable pollutant is:
21. Which of the following does not causes air pollution? (1) Sewage (2) Mercury
(1) Pollen grains (2) Hydroelectric power (3) Plastic (4) Asbestos
(3) Diesel engine (4) Thermoelectric power
32. Which of the following is present in highest concentration
22. Carbon monoxide (CO) is harmful to man because: in exhaust emission?
(1) It competes with O2 for haemoglobin
(1) CO2 (2) Hydrocarbons
(2) It forms carbolic acid
(3) CO (4) Oxides of nitrogen
(3) It generates excess CO2
(4) It is carcinogenic 33. By what method the quantity of organic pollutants in
water can be determined?
23. When PO43- and NO3- is more in the water of a lake
(1) By measuring BOD
it causes:
(2) By pH Measurement
(1) Growth of bacteria(2) Growth of fishes
(3) By transparency measurements
(3) Death of algae (4) Algal bloom
(4) By measuring the change of colour/CFC
24. The ‘blue baby syndrome’ is caused due to:
34. A dental disease characterised by mottling of teeth is due
(1) Nitrates (2) Chlorides
to presence of a certain chemical element in drinking water.
(3) Cyanides (4) Fluorides
Which is the element?
25. Minimata diseased was caused due to water pollution (1) Fluorine (2) Mercury
by: (3) Boron (4) Chlorine
(1) Cyanides (2) Mercury
(3) Lead (4) Methyl isocyanate 35. Chlorine treats/disinfects water:
(1) by killing germs
26. Which disease in children is caused by the intensive
(2) by removing hardness of water
use of nitrate fertilizers?
(3) by removing all the air pollutants
(1) Jaundice (2) Septicaemia
(4) All above
(3) Mumps (4) Methaemoglobinemia
36. Pollution is rising each year due to:
27. BOD is:
(1) Automobiles and industries
(1) Biochemical oxygen demand
(2) Population explosion
(2) Biological oxygen deficit
(3) Rains
(3) Biosphere oxygen demand
(4) Lab Research
(4) None of the above
37. Sudden mass death of fishes from oxygen depletion is
28. Indiscriminate use of DDT is undesirable because:
more likely in case of:
(1) It is harmful (2) It is degradable
(1) Oligotrophic lake (2) Oxalotrophic lake
(3) It causes mutation
(3) Eutrophic lake (4) Mesotrophic lake
(4) It is accumulated in food chain

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38. Continuous sewage flow into a stream would lead to (3) Natural nutrients present in excess
(1) Increase in temperature (4) Wastes from feed lots
(2) Algal bloom
45. One of the pollutants that generally helped in the early
(3) Eutrophication
degradation of the ozone layer is
(4) Depletion of oxygen
(1) SO2 (2) DDT
39. Which of the following types of pollution causes the out (3) CO2 (4) Freons
break of jaundice?
46. The carbon dioxide contents in atmospheric air is about
(1) Water (2) Land
(1) 3.34% (2) 6.5%
(3) Thermal (4) Air
(3) 0.034% (4) 0.34%
40. The pollutants chlorofluorocarbons are major source of
47. In coming years, skin related disorders will become more
air pollution contributed by
common due to
(1) Sewage pollutants(2) Aerosols
(1) Air pollution
(3) Industrial effluents(4) All above
(2) Excessive use of detergents
41. Acid rains are the result of (3) Depletion of ozone layer
(1) Excess production of NH3 by industry and coal (4) Water pollution
gas
48. The term biomagnification refers to the
(2) Excess release of carbon monoxide by incomplete
(1) Increase in population size
combustion
(2) Growth of organisms due to food consumption
(3) Excess formation of CO2 by combustion and animal
(3) Increase in the concentration of nondegradable
respiration
pollutants as they pass through food chain
(4) Excess NO2 and SO2 from burning of fossil fuels
(4) Blowing up of environmental issues by man
42. The basic component of the smog may be
49. CO produced by incomplete combustion of fuel exerts a
(1) O3 and PAN (2) O3
harmful effect because
(3) PAN (4) PVC
(1) It is respiratory inhibitor
43. Water pollution causes (2) It is CO2 antagonist
(1) Increased deoxygenation and turbidity (3) It is carcinogenic
(2) Decreased turbidity (4) It is corrosive to eye
(3) Increased oxygenation
50. Which of the following is not a direct atmospheric
(4) Increased photosynthesis
pollutant?
44. Most harmful types of environment pollutants are (1) CO
(1) Human organic wastes (2) SO2
(2) Non biodegradable chemicals (3) Hydrocarbons/CH4
(4) CO2 & Water vapour

22 Efficient Self Study Course for Medical Entrance