ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Which of the following is a primary pollutant?

(a) CO (b) PAN (c) Aldehydes (d) H2SO4

2. Which of the following is not regarded as a pollutant?

(a) NO2 (b) CO2 (c) O3 (d) Hydrocarbons

3. Which of the following does not contribute towards the formation of

photochemical smog ?
(a) NO (b) SO2 (c) O3 (d) Hydrocarbons

4. Which of the following is the biggest particulate matter?

(a) Soot (b) H2SO4 droplets
(c) Fly ash (d) HNO3 droplets

5. London smog is found in

(a) Summer during day time (b) Summer during morning time
(c) Winter during morning time (d) Winter during day time

6. White lung cancer is caused by

(a) Asbestos (b) Silica (c) Paper (d) Textiles

7. The non-viable particulate is

(a) Bacteria (b) Moulds (c) Fungi (d) Dust

8. Which of the following statement is true ?

(a) SO3 is more harmful air pollutant than SO2
(b) SO2 doesnot affect larynx (voice box)
(c) NO is more toxic to living tissues than NO2
(d) NOx does not play any role in photochemical smog.

9. Which of the following is a sink for CO?

(a) Haemoglobin (b) Microorganisms present in the soil
(c) Oceans (d) Plants

10. Which of the following statements about control of particulate pollution

is not correct?
(a) Gravity settling chamber removes larger particles from the air
(b) Cyclone collector removes fine particles in the diameter range 5-20
microns

http://www.dreamjee.com
 (c) Wet scrubbers are used to wash away all types of particulates
(d) In electrostatic precipitator, the particulates are made to acquire
positive charge which are then attracted by the negative electrode and
removed.

11. UV radiation from sun causes a reaction that produces

(a) Carbon monoxide (b) Sulphur dioxide
(c) Fluorides (d) Ozone

12. Chlorofluorocarbon releases which of the following chemical harmful to

ozone ?
(a) Fluorine (b) Chlorine
(c) Nitrogen dioxide (d) Sulphur dioxide

13. Ozone layer of stratosphere requires protection from indiscriminate use

of
(a) Pesticides (b) Atomic explosions
(c) Aerosols and high flying jets (d) Baloons

14. Which of the following statements about polar stratospheric clouds

(PSCs) is not correct?
(a) Type I clouds are formed at about – 77ºC and contain solid HNO3.3
H2O
(b) Type II clouds are formed at about – 85ºC and contain some ice
(c) A tight whirlpool of wind called Polar Vortex is formed which
surrounds Antarctica
(d) PSCs do not react with chlorine nitrate and HCl.

15. Depletion of ozone layer over Antarctica takes place during

(a) Spring (in the months of September and October)
(b) November i.e. after spring
(c) Winter (d) Summer

16. Addition of phosphate fertilizers into water leads to

(a) Increased growth of decomposers
(a) Reduced algal growth
(b) Increased algal growth
(c) Nutrient enrichment (eutrophication)

17. Domestic waste mostly constitutes

(a) Non-biodegradable pollutants (b) Biodegradable pollutants
(c) Effluents (d) Air pollutants

http://www.dreamjee.com
18. DDT is
(a) A fertilizer (b) Biodegradable pollutant
(c) Non-biodegradable pollutant (d) Greenhouse gas

19. Which of the following causes water pollution?

(a) Fly ash (b) Auto exhausts
(c) Aeroplanes (d) Pesticides

20. Fish die in water bodies polluted by sewage due to

(a) Pathogens (b) Clogging of gills by silt
(c) Decrease in D.O. (d) Foul smell

21. Phosphate pollution is caused by

(a) weathering of phosphate rocks only
(b) Agricultural fertilizers only
(c) Phosphate rocks and sewage
(d) Sewage and agricultural fertilizers

22. Water is often treated with chlorine to

(a) Increase oxygen content (b) Kill germs
(c) Remove suspended particles (d) Remove hardness

23. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes
given below the lists :
List I (Pollutant) List II (Source )
A. Microorganisms 1. Chemical fertilizers
B. Plant nutrients 2. Abandoned coal mines
C. Sediments 3. Domestic sewage
D. Mineral acids 4. Erosion of soil by strip mining
5. Detergents
A B C D
(a) 3 1 4 2
(b) 2 5 3 1
(c) 1 3 2 4
(d) 4 2 1 5
24. Which of the following statements is false ?
(a) The lower the concentration of D.O., the more polluted is the water
sample.
(b) The tolerable limit of lead in drinking water is 50 ppm
(c) Water is considered pure if it has BOD less than 5 ppm

http://www.dreamjee.com
 (d) In COD determination, the pollutants resistant to microbial
oxidation are not oxidised by oxidising agent like K2Cr2O7.

25. Which of the following is not a herbicide?

(a) Sodium chlorate (b) Sodium arsenite
(c) Polyphosphate (d) Triazines

26. Loam soil contains almost equal amounts of

(a) Sand (b) Silt
(c) Clay, humus, air and water (d) All the above

27. By green chemistry we mean

(a) Producing chemicals of our daily use from greenhouse gases
(b) Performing chemical processes which use green plants
(c) Performing only those reactions which are of biological origin
(d) The use of non toxic reagents and solvents to produce
environmental friendly products

28. Which of the following is not an example of green chemistry?

(a) Catalytic dehydrogenation of the diethanolamine without using
cyanide and formaldehyde
(b) Replacement of CFCs by CO2 as blowing agent in the manufacture of
polystyrene foam sheets
(c) Reacting methylamine and phosgene to produce methyl isocyanate
(d) Replacement of organotins by ‘sea-nine’ as antifouling compound in
sea marines.

29. Which of the following statement is true about ozone layer?

(a) It is harmful because ozone is dangerous to living organism
(b) It is beneficial because oxidation reaction can proceed faster in the
presence of ozone
(c) It is beneficial because ozone cuts-off the ultraviolet radiation of the
sun
(d) It is harmful because ozone cuts out the important radiation of the
sun which are vital for photosynthesis

30. Poisonous gas present in the exhaust fumes of car is

(a)CH4 (b) C2H2 (c) CO (d) CO2

31. Incomplete combustion of petrol or diesel oil in automobile engines can

be best detected by testing the fuel gases for the presence of
(a) Carbon monoxide and water vapour
(b) Carbon monoxide
(c) Nitrogen dioxide (d) Sulphur dioxide
http://www.dreamjee.com
32. About 20 km above the earth there is an ozone layer, which one of the
following statements about ozone and ozone layer is true
(a) Ozone layer is beneficial to us because ozone cuts out the ultraviolet
radiation of the sun
(b) The conversion of ozone to oxygen is an endothermic reaction
(c) Ozone has a triatomic linear molecule
(d) Ozone layer is harmful to us because it cuts out a radiation useful
for photosynthesis
33. Which one of the following is mainly responsible for depletion of ozone
layer?
(a) Methane (b) Carbon dioxide
(c) Water (d) Chlorofluoro carbons

34. Ozone is formed in the upper atmosphere from oxygen by the action of
(a) Ultraviolet rays (b) Cosmic rays
(c) Free radicals (d) Nitrogen oxides
(e) Thermal radiation from sunlight.

35. Surface water contains

(a) Salt + organic matter (b) Only salt
(c) Organic matter (d) Suspended impurity

36. When rain is accompanied by a thunderstorm, the collected rain water

will have a pH value
(a) Slightly higher than that when the thunderstorm is not there
(b) Uninfluenced by occurrence of thunderstorm
(c) Which depends upon the amount of dust in air
(d) Slightly lower than that of rain water without thunderstorm

37. Gas released during Bhopal tragedy was

(a) Potassium isothiocyanate (b) Phosgene
(c) Methyl isocyanate (d) Ammonia

38. Ultra-violet light causes

(a) Sticky metaphases (b) Photodynamic action
(c) Destruction of hydrogen bonds between complementary DNA strands
(d) Formation of pyrimidines

39. SO2 as an air pollutant affects

(a) Cell wall (b) All membrane systems
http://www.dreamjee.com
 (c) Plasmodesmata (d) Nucleus

40. Burning of fossil fuels is the main source of which of the following
pollutants?
(a) Nitric oxide (b) Carbon monoxide
(c) Sulphur dioxide (d) Particulate matter

41. Positive soil pollution is

(a) Reduction in soil productivity due to addition of pesticides,
fertilizers and industrial wastes.
(b) Reduction in soil productivity due to erosion and over use.
(c) Converting fertile land into barren land by dumping ash, garbage
and rubbish.
(d) None of these

42. Which of the following is a biodegradable pollutant ?

(a) Plastic (b) Sewage (c) Asbestos (d) Mercury

http://www.dreamjee.com
 ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY

ANSWERS

Q.NO. Ans. Q.NO. Ans. Q.NO. Ans. Q.NO. Ans. Q.NO. Ans.
1. a 10. d 19. d 28. c 37. c
2. b 11. d 20. c 29. c 38. c
3. b 12. b 21. d 30. c 39. b
4. c 13. c 22. b 31. b 40. c
5. c 14. d 23. a 32. a 41. a
6. d 15. a 24. d 33. d 42. b
7. d 16. d 25. c 34. a
8. a 17. b 26. d 35. a
9. b 18. c 27. d 36. d

SOLUTIONS

1. CO is a primary pollutant.

2. CO2 is generally not regarded as a pollutant.

3. SO2 has no contribution in photochemical smog.

4. Fly ash are the biggest particulates (diameter about 500,000 nm )

5. London smog is found in winter during morning time .

6. White lung cancer is caused by textiles.

7. Dust is the non-viable particulate.

8. SO3 is more harmful pollutant than SO2.

9. Microorganisms present in soil convert CO into CO2

10. Particulates acquire negative charge and are attracted by the positive
electrode.

u
11. O2  O  O;O  O2  O3

http://www.dreamjee.com
 h
12. CF2Cl2  CF2Cl  Cl* ; Cl*  O3  ClO*  O2
13. Aerosols use CFCs and high flying jets release NO which are responsible
for depletion of ozone layer.

14. PSCs react with chlorine nitrate and HCl to give HOCl and Cl 2
respectively.

15. Depletion of ozone layer over Antarctica takes place during spring.

16. Addition of phosphate fertilizers into water leads to nutrient enrichment

(eutrophication).

17. Domestic waste mostly constitutes biodegradable pollutants.

18. DDT is non- biodegradable pollutant.

19. Pesticides cause water pollution.

20. Decrease in D. O. value due to sewage pollution causes death of fish.

21. Sewage and agricultural fertilizers cause phosphate pollution.

22. Water is treated with chlorine to kill germs.

23. Domestic sewage is the source of microorganisms, chemical fertilizers

are the source of plant nutrients, erosion of soil by strip mining give
sediments and abandoned coal mines produce mineral acids.

24. In COD determination, the pollutants resistant to microbial oxidation

are also oxidised by oxidising agent like K2Cr2O7.

25. Polyphosphate is not a herbicide.

26. Loam soil contains almost equal amounts of sand, silt, clay, humus air
and water.

27. The use of non toxic reagents and solvents to produce environmental
friendly products.

28. Reaction of methylamine and phosgene to produce MIC

(methyl isocyanate) is not an example of green chemistry.

http://www.dreamjee.com
29. Ozone layer in the upper atmosphere absorbs UV radiations and is
beneficial to human life.

30. CO is poisonous and causes air pollution. It is present in the exhaust

fumes of cars.

31. Incomplete combustion of petrol or diesel oil in automobile engines

produces CO only.

32. (a)

33. Chlorofluorocarbons react with O3 and cause depletion of ozone layer in

the upper atmosphere.

34. UV rays act on oxygen molecules to combine with oxygen atoms forming
ozone in the upper atmosphere.

35. Surface water contains salt and organic matter.

36. Normal rain water has a pH value 5.6 Thunderstorm forms NO which
after oxidation gives HNO3. Thus rain water accompanying
thunderstorm has a pH lower than 5.6.

37. The poisonous gas released during Bhopal gas tragedy was methyl
isocyanate (MIC)

38. UV light causes destruction of hydrogen bonds between complementary

DNA strands.

39. SO2 as an air pollutant affects all membrane systems.

40. Burning of fossil fuels is the main source of SO2.

41. Positive soil pollution is reduction in soil productivity due to addition of

pesticides, fertilizers and industrial wastes.

42. Sewage is a biodegradable pollutant.

http://www.dreamjee.com