Chemistry

Environmental Chemistry

Question:

A factory was started near a village. Suddenly villagers started feeling the presence of irritating vapours in the village and cases of headache, chest pain, cough, dryness of throat and breathing problems increased. Villagers blamed the emissions from the chimney of the factory for such problems. Explain what could have happened. Give chemical reactions for the support of your explanation.

Answer:

The symptoms observed in the villagers show that oxides of nitrogen and sulphur must be coming out of the chimney. This is due to combustion of fossil fuels like coal, oil, natural gas, gasoline, etc. to produce high temperatures at which oxidation of atmospheric nitrogen takes place forming NO and N02:
ncert-exemplar-problems-class-11-chemistry-chapter-14-environmental-chemistry-6
S02 is produced due to combustion of sulphur containing coal and fuel oil or roasting of sulphide ores like iron pyrites (FeS2), copper pyrites (CuFeS2), etc.

Cu2S + 02→2Cu + S02

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Environmental Chemistry

Q 1.

Ozone is a toxic gas and is a strong oxidizing agent, even then its presence in the stratosphere is very important. Explain what would happen if ozone from this region is completely removed.

Q 2.

What is photochemical smog? What are its effects? How can it be controlled?

Q 3.

Assertion (A): Excessive use of chlorinated synthetic pesticides causes soil and water pollution.
Reason (R): Such pesticides are non-biodegradable.
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) Both A and R are not correct.
(d) A is not correct but R is correct.

Q 4.

Acid rain is known to contain some acids. Name these acids. From where do they come in rain?

Q 5.

How can domestic waste be used as manure?

Q 6.

Why is acid rain considered as threat to Taj Mahal ?

Q 7.

Oxidation of sulphur trioxide in the absence of a catalyst is a slow process but this oxidation occurs easily in the atmosphere. Explain how does this happen. Give chemical reactions for the conversion of S02 into S03.

Q 8.

What would have happened if the greenhouse gases were totally missing in the earth’s atmosphere? Discuss.

Q 9.

List out the gases which are considered as major source of air pollution.

Q 10.

What is PAN stands for?

Q 11.

What are the sources of dissolved oxygen in water?

Q 12.

Which of the following conditions shows the polluted environment?
(a) pH of rain water is 5.6.
(b) Amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is 0.03%.
(c) Biochemical oxygen demand is 10 ppm.
(d) Eutrophication

Q 13.

What do you mean by viable and non-viable particulates?

Q 14.

Which zone is known as ozonosphere?

Q 15.

What is siltation?

Q 16.

Assertion (A): The pH of acid rain is less than 5.6.
Reason (R): Carbon dioxide present in the atmosphere dissolves in rain water and forms carbonic acid.
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) Both A and R are not correct.
(d) A is not correct but R is correct.

Q 17.

Assertion (A): If BOD level of water in a reservoir is less than 5 ppm it is highly polluted.
Reason (R): High biological oxygen demand means low activity of bacteria in water.
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) Both A and R are not correct.
(d) A is not correct but R is correct.

Q 18.

Define environmental chemistry?

Q 19.

What are the major causes of water pollution? Explain.

Q 20.

What is BOD?

Q 21.

Why does water covered with excessive algal growth become polluted?

Q 22.

From where does ozone come in the photochemical smog?

Q 23.

Carbon monoxide gas is more dangerous than carbon dioxide gas. Why?

Q 24.

What is smog? How is classical smog different from photochemical smog?

Q 25.

What are pesticides and herbicides? Explain giving examples.

Q 26.

What is the name of the compound formed when CO combines with blood?

Q 27.

Which gas was mainly responsible for Bhopal gas tragedy?  

Q 28.

How carbon monoxide acts as a poison for human beings?

Q 29.

Which of the following statements is correct?
(a) Ozone hole is a hole formed in stratosphere from which ozone oozes out.
(b) Ozone hole is a hole formed in the troposphere from which ozone oozes out.                                                                                                                                                 .
(c) Ozone hole is thinning of ozone layer of stratosphere at some places.
(d) Ozone hole means vanishing of ozone layer around the earth completely.

Q 30.

How are NO and NO2 formed in the atmosphere?

Q 31.

What is ‘Acid Rain’? How is it harmful to the environment?

Q 32.

What do you mean by green chemistry? How will it help in decreasing environmental pollution ?

Q 33.

What is the nature of classical smog?

Q 34.

What is meant by PCBs?

Q 35.

What are biodegradable and non-biodegradable pollutants? ,

Q 36.

A factory was started near a village. Suddenly villagers started feeling the presence of irritating vapours in the village and cases of headache, chest pain, cough, dryness of throat and breathing problems increased. Villagers blamed the emissions from the chimney of the factory for such problems. Explain what could have happened. Give chemical reactions for the support of your explanation.

Q 37.

Assertion (A): Ozone is destroyed by solar radiation in upper stratosphere.
Reason (R): Thinning of the ozone layer allows excessive UV radiations to reach the surface of earth.
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) Both A and R are not correct.
(d) A is not correct but R is correct.

Q 38.

What do you mean by ozone hole? What are its consequences?

Q 39.

Which main gases is responsible for damage in ozone layer?

Q 40.

Greenhouse effect leads to global warming. Which substances are responsible for greenhouse effect?

Q 41.

A person was using water supplied by Municipality. Due to shortage of water, he started using underground water. He felt laxative effect. What could be the cause?

Q 42.

Assertion (A): Greenhouse effect was observed in houses used to grow plants and these are made of green glass.
Reason (R): Greenhouse name has been given because glass houses are made of green glass.
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) Both A and R are not correct.
(d) A is not correct but R is correct.

Q 43.

For your agricultural field or garden you have developed a compost producing pit. Discuss the process in the light of bad odour, flies and recycling of wastes for a good produce.

Q 44.

What is meant by polar vortex?

Q 45.

What do you mean by greenhouse effect? What is the role of CO2 in the greenhouse effect?

Q 46.

(a) Define eutrophication and pneumoconiosis.
(b) Write difference between photochemical and classical smog.

Q 47.

What is the compound formed when CO combines with blood?

Q 48.

Biochemical Oxygen Demand, /BOD) is a measure of organic material present in water. BOD value less than 5 ppm indicates a water sample to be

Q 49.

Phosphate containing fertilizers cause water pollution. Addition of such compounds in water bodies causes
(a) enhanced growth of algae
(b) decrease in amount of dissolved oxygen in water
(c) deposition of calcium phosphate
(d) increase in fish population

Q 50.

Dissolved oxygen in water is v £ry important for aquatic life. What processes are responsible for the reduction of dissolved oxygen in water?