Additional Questions - Chapter 15 Environmental Chemistry 11th Chemistry Guide Samacheer Kalvi Solutions - SaraNextGen [2024-2025]

Updated By SaraNextGen

On April 24, 2024, 11:35 AM

Additional Questions Solved

I. Choose the correct answer

Question 1.
Which one of the following is bio-degradable pollutant?
(a) DDT
(b) Plastics
(c) Mercury
(d) Wood
Answer:
(d) Wood

Question 2.
Which one of the following gases is not present in troposphere?
(a) N₂O₂
(b) CO₂
(c) N₂
(d) water vapours
Answer:
(c) N₂

Question 3.
Which of the following pair of’ oxides is responsible for acid rain?
(a) SO₃ + NO₂
(b) CO₂ + CO
(c) N₂O + CH₄
(d) O₂ + H₂
Answer:
(a) SO₃ + NO₂

Question 4.
Which one of the following is produced as a result of incomplete combustion of coal’?
(a) CO₂
(b) CO
(c) SO₂
(d) SO₃
Answer:
(b) CO

Question 5.
Which of the following is not a greenhouse gas’?
(a) CO
(b) O₃
(c) CH₄
(d) Water vapours
Answer:
(a) CO

Question 6.
Photochemical smog occurs in warm, dry and sunny climate. One of the following is not among-st the components of photochemical smog. Identify it.
(a) NO₂
(b) O₃
(c) SO₂
(d) Unsaturated hydrocarbons
Answer:
(c) SO₂

II. Match the following
1.

Answer:

Answer:

Answer:

Answer:

Answer:
      

Answer:

III. Fill in the blanks

Question 1.
An example for biodegradable pollutant is ………
Answer:
plant waste.

Question 2.
An example for non-biodegradable pollutant ………
Answer:
metal waste.

Question 3
……… is the lowest layer of atmosphere.
Answer:
Troposphere.

Question 4.
Ozone is present in ……… layer of the atmosphere.
Answer:
Stratosphere.

Question 5
……… is called blue planet.
Answer:
Earth.

Question 6.
About 80% of the mass of the atmosphere is present in ………
Answer:
Troposphere.

Question 7.
……… will reduce the oxygen carrying capacity of blood.
Answer:
CO

Question 8
……… gas is used in the process of photosynthesis.
Answer:
CO₂

Question 9.
……… gas potentially damage plant leaves and retard photosynthesis.
Answer:
NO₂

Question 10.
……… is formed by incomplete combustion of coal.
Answer:
CO₂

Question 11.
……… binds with haemoglobin and reduce the oxygen carrying capacity of blood.
Answer:
CO

Question 12.
……… is carcinogenic and causes irritation in eyes and mucous membrane.
Answer:
PAH

Question 13.
The earth surface get heated up by a phenomenon called ………
Answer:
Greenhouse effect

Question 14.
The main constituent of layer responsible for global warming is ………
Answer:
CO₂

Question 15.
Earth’s average surface temperature would be only about ………
Answer:
-18°C

Question 16.
The pH of rain water is normally ………
Answer:
5.6

Question 17.
……… pair of compounds is present in acid-rain water.
Answer:
HNO₃ + H₂SO₄

Question 18.
……… is an example of viable particulate.
Answer:
Bacteria.

Question 19.
……… is an example of non-viable particulate matter.
Answer:
Cement dust.

Question 20.
Particulate pollutants will result in the health hazard named as ………
Answer:
pneimoconiosis.

Question 21.
Coal miners may suffer from ………
Answer:
Black lung disease.

Question 22.
Textile workers may suifer from ………
Answer:
White lung disease.

Question 23.
………….. aftect childrcns brain. interfers with maturation of RBC’s and even causes cancer.
Answer:
Lead.

Question 24.
……… can be used to reduce particulate pollutant.
Answer:
electrostatic precipitator

Question 25.
……… is the combination of smoke and fog.
Answer:
Smog.

Question 26.
Classical smog called London smog contains ………
Answer:
Coal-smoke and fog.

Question 27.
Classical smog is otherwise called ………
Answer:
reducing smog.

Question 28.
Photochemical smog is otherwise called ………
Answer:
Los angeles smog.

Question 29.
The three main components of photochemical sinog are ………
Answer:
Hydrogen sulphide. dust and PAN.

Question 30.
……… plantation can metabolise nitrogen oxide and control photochemical smog.
Answer:
Pinus tree.

Question 31.
……… acts as an umbrella for the earth and prevent harmful UV radiations.
Answer:
ozone.

Question 32.
……… pair of compounds is found to be highly responsible for depletion of ozone layer.
Answer:
Nitric oxide + CFC

Question 33.
Freons are ………
Answer:
Chiorofluoro alkanes.

Question 34.
Ozone layer is depicted by the reactive ………
Answer:
Chlorine atom.

Question 35.
Examples for water borne diseases are ………
Answer:
Dysentery and cholera.

Question 36.
The standard pH of drinking water is ………
Answer:
6.5 to 8.5

Question 37.
The essential elements for soil are ………
Answer:
N,P,K

Question 38
……… is a better alternative for carnicogentic benzene.
Answer:
Xylene.

Question 39.
The alternate solvent used instead of tetrachioroethYlefle in dry cleaning is ………
Answer:
Liquefied CO₂

Question 40.
……… is used for bleaching clothes in laundry.
Answer:
H₂O₂

Question 41.
……… is used to bleach paper.
Answer:
H₂O₂

Question 42.
……… is the most safest pesticide.
Answer:
Neem based pesticide.

Question 43.
……… acid is most abundant ¡n acid rain.
Answer:
H₂SO₄

Question 44.
……… causes less pollution.
Answer:
CO₂

Question 45.
Besides CO₂ the other greenhouse gas is ………
Answer:
CH₄

Question 46.
BOD is a measure of ………
Answer:
Organic pollutant in water.

Question 47.
The pollutant released in Bhopal gas tragedy was ………
Answer:
Methyl isocyanate.

Question 48.
The greatest affinity for haemoglobin in shown by ………
Answer:
CO

Question 49.
Eutrophication causes reduction in ………
Answer:
dissolved oxygen.

IV Choose the odd one out

Question 1.
(a) Plant waste
(b) DDT
(c) Plastic
(d) Nuclear waste
Answer:
(a) Plant waste. It is biodegradable pollutant whereas others are non-biodegradable pollutants.

Question 2.
(a) Plant waste
(b) Animal wastes
(c) Paper
(d) Nuclear waste
Answer:
(d) Nuclear waste. It is non-biodegradable pollutant whereas others are biodegradable wastes.

Question 3.
(a) N₂O₂
(b) CO₂
(c) H₂O (Vap)
(d) O₃
Answer:
(d) O₃ It is present in stratosphere whereas others are present in troposphere.

Question 4.
(a) O₂⁺
(b) O⁺
(c) N₂
(d) NO⁺
Answer:
(c) N₂. ills present in mesosphere whereas others are present in thermosphere.

Question 5.
(a) N₂
(b) O₂
(c) O₃
(d) N₂O₂
Answer:
(d) N₂O₂ It is present in troposphere whereas others are present in stratosphere.

Question 6.
(a) CH₄
(b) CO
(c) CO₂
(d) CFC
Answer:
(b) CO. It is a poisonous gas whereas others are responsible for green house effect.

V. Choose the correct pair

Question 1.
(a) CCF : Green house effect
(b) CO : Carcinogenic
(c) PAH : Acid rain
(d) NO : Lung injury
Answer:
(a) CCF : Green house effect

Question 2.
(a) NO₂ : Green house effect
(b) CFC : asthma and lung injury
(c) PAH : carcinogenic
(d) CO₂ : green house effect
Answer:
(a) NO₂ : Green house effect

Question 3.
(a) Classical smog : NO₂ and O₂
(b) London smog : SO₂, SO₂ and humidity
(c) Photochemical smog : CO₂ and CO
(d) Los Angel smog : NO₂ and NO₃
Answer:
(b) London smog : SO₂ , SO₂ and humidity

VI. Choose the incorrect pair

Question 1.
(a) Photochemical smog : NO₂ and O₂
(b) Classical smog : SO₂, SO₃ and humidity
(c) Smog : Smoke and fog
(d) Non viable particulate : Algae, Fungi
Answer:
(d) Non viable particulate : Algae, Fungi

Question 2.
(a) Viable particulate : bacteria, fungi
(b) Non viable particulate : smoke, dust
(c) Acid rain : HCl + HNO₂
(d) Photochemical smog : NO₂ + O₃
Answer:
(c) Acid rain : HCl + HNO₂

Question 3.
(a) Lead : Damage to kidney, liver
(b) Sulphate : Laxative effect
(c) Nitrage : Blue baby syndrome
(d) TDS : Damage to bone and teeth
Answer:
(d) TDS : Damage to bone and teeth

Question 4.
(a) Insecticides : DDT. BCHs
(b) Herbicides : Organo mercury compounds
(c) Herbicides : Sodium chlorate, sodium arsenite
(d) Industrial waste : Mercury. copper
Answer:
(b) Herbicides : Organo mercuiy compounds

VII. Assertion & Reason
Assertion (A) : Depletion of ozone layer causes skin cancer.
Reason (R) : Depletion olozone layer will allow more UV rays to reach the earth surface and cause skin cancer.
(a) Both (A) and (R) are correct and (R)is the correct explanation of (A).
(b) Both (A) and (R) are correct but (R) is not the correct explanation of (R).
(c) (A) is correct but (R) is wrong.
(d) (A) is wrong but (R) is correct.
Answer:
(a) Both (A) and (R) are correct and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).

Question 2.
Assertion (A) : UV radiations damages the fish productivity.
Reason (R) : UV radiations affect the growth of phytoplankions as a result food chain in ocean is disturbed.
(a) Both (A) and (R) are correct hut (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
(b) Both (A) and (R) are correct and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
(c) (A) is correct but (R) is wrong.
(d) (A) is wrong but (R) is correct.
Answer:
(b) Both (A) and (R) are correct and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).

Question 3.
Assertion (A) : The pH ol acid rain is less than 5.6.
Reason (R) : CO, present in the atmosphere dissolves in rain water and forms carbonic acid,
(a) Both (A) and (R) are correct and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
(b) Both (A) and (R) are correct hut (R) is not correct explanation of (A).
(c) (A) is correct bitt (R) is wrong.
(d) (A) is wrong but (R) is correct.
Answer:
(a) Both (A) and (R) are correct and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).

2 Mark Questions and Answers

Question 1.
What is meant by environmental pollution?
Answer:
Any undesirable change in our environment that have harmful effects on plants. animals and human beings is called environmental pollution.

Question 2.
Write a note on constituents of earth’s atmosphere.
Answer:
Earth’s atmosphere is a layer of gases retained by earth’s gravity. it contains roughly 78% Nitrogen, 21% Oxygen. 0.93% Argon, 0.04% Carbon dioxide. traces of other gases and little amount of water vapour. This mixture is commonly known as air.

Question 3.
What is called troposphere? How many layers are present in it? Give their names.
Answer:

1. The lowest layer of the atmosphere is called the troposphere and il extends from 0 10 km from the earth surface.
2. About 80% of the mass of the atmosphere is in this layer. 3 layers are present in it.
3. They are –

· Hydrosphere

· Lithosphere

· Biosphere

Question 4.
Write about hydrosphere (or) Why Earth is called as Blue planer?
Answer:

• Hydrosphere include all types of water sources like oceans, seas, rivers, lakes. streams, underground water, polar ice-caps, clouds etc.
• It covers about 75% of the earth’s surface. Hence earth is called as Blue planet.

Question 5.
What is lithosphere?
Answer:
Lithosphere includes soil, rocks and mountains which are solid components of Earth.

Question 6.
What is biosphere?
Answer:
Biosphere includes the lithosphere. hydrosphere and atmosphere integrating the living organisms present in the lithosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere.

Question 7.
What is air pollution?
Answer:
Air pollution is defined as any undesirable change in air which adversely affects living organisms. Air pollution is limited to troposphere and stratosphere.

Question 8.
What are the types of air pollutants? Give examples.
Answer:
1. Air pollutants exists in two major forms namely:
(a) Gaseous air pollutants
(b) Particulates

2. Gaseous air pollutants:
Oxides of sulphur, oxides of nitrogen, oxides of carbon and hydrocarbons are the gaseous air pollutants.

3. Particulate pollutants:
Particulate pollutants are small solid particles and liquid droplets suspended in air.
Exarnple:
dust, pollen, smoke, soot, aerosols.

Question 9.
Define greenhouse effect.
Answer:
Greenhouse effect is defined as the heating up of the earth’s surface due to trapping of infrared radiations reflected by earth’s surface by the CO₂ layer in the atmosphere.

Question 10.
What is Global warming?
Answer:
The heating up of the earth through the greenhouse effect is called Global warming.

Question 11.
When rain water is named as acid rain?
Answer:
Rain water normally has a pH of 5.6 due to dissolution of atmospheric CO₂ particles into it. Oxides of sulphur and nitrogen in the atmosphere are absorbed by droplets of water that make up clouds and get chemically converted into sulphuric acid and nitric acid. As a result the pH of rainwater drops below 5.6 and hence it is called acid rain.

Question 12.
What is stone leprosy? How is it formed?
Answer:

• The attack on the marble of buildings by acid rain is called stone leprosy.
• Acid rain causes extensive damage to buildings made up of marble CaCO + H₂SO₄ CaSO₄ + H₂O + CO₂↑

Question 13.
What are fumes? Give one example.
Answer:
Fumes are one of the non-viable particulate pollutants air. They are obtained by condensation of vapours released during sublimation, distillation, boiling and calcination. For example, organic solvents, metals and metallic oxides form fume particles.

Question 14.
What are the techniques to reduce particulate pollutants?
Answer:
The particulates from air can be removed by using electrostatic precipitators, gravity settling chambers, wet scrubbers or by cyclone collectors. These techniques are base on washing away or settling of the particulate matter.

Question 15.
How will you control photochemical smog?
Answer:
The formation of photochemical smog can be suppressed by preventing the release of nitrogen oxide and hydrocarbons into the atmosphere from the motor vehicles by using catalytic convertors in engines. Plantation of certain trees like Pinus, Pyrus Querus vitus and Juniparus can metabolise nitrogen oxide.

Question 16.
What is meant by water pollution’?
Answer:
Water pollution is defined as the addition of foreign substances or factors like heat which degrades the quality of water so that it becomes an health hazard or unfit for use.

Question 17.
What are the sources of water pollution? Give examples.
Answer:

• The water pollutants originate form both natural as well as human activities. The source of water pollution are classified as point and non-point sources.
• Easily identified source of water pollution is called a point source. For example, Municipal and industrial discharge pipes.
• Non-point source cannot be identified easily. For example, agricultural runoffs, mining wastes, acid rain, storm water drainage and construction sediments.

Question 18.
What is BOD’?
Answer:
The total amount of oxygen (in milligrams) consumed by microorganisms in decomposing the waste in one litre of water at 20°C for a period of 5 days is cal Led biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and its value is expressed in ppm.

Question 19.
What is COD?
Answer:
Chemical oxygen demand (COD) is defined as the amount of oxygen required by the organic matter in a sample of water for its oxidation by a strong oxidising agent like K₂Cr₂O₇ in acidic medium for a period of 2 hours.

Question 20.
What are total dissolved solids (TDS)?
Answer:

• Most of the salts are soluble in water. It include cations like calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, iron and anions like carbonate, bicarbonate, chloride, sulphate, phosphate and nitrate.
• Use of drinking water having TDS (total dissolved solids) concentration higher than 500 ppm causes possibilities of irritation in stomach and intestine.

Question 21.
What are the constituents of soil?
Answer:
Soil is a thin layer of organic and inorganic material that covers the earth’s rocky surface. Soil constitutes the upper crust of the earth, which supports land, plants and animals.

Question 22.
Define – soil pollution.
Answer:
Soil pollution is defined as the build up of persistent toxic compounds, radioactive materials, chemical salts and disease causing agents in soil which have harmful effects on plant growth and animal health. Soil pollution affects the structure and fertility of soil, ground water quality and food chain in biological ecosystem.

Question 23.
Explain how industrial waste affects the soil.
Answer:

• Industrial activities have been the biggest contributor to soil pollution especially the mining and manufacturing activities.
• Industrial wastes include cyanides. chromates, acids, alkalis and metals like mercury, copper, zinc, cadmium and lead.
• These industrial wastes in the soil surface lies for a long time and makes it unsuitable for use.

Question 24.
What is green chemistry?
Answer:

• Efforts to control environment pollution have resulted in the development of chemicals favorable for environment and this branch of science is called green chemistry.
• It is a chemical philosophy encouraging the design of products and processes that reduces or eliminates the use and generation of hazardous substances.

Question 25.
Write a note about dry cleaning of clothes.
Answer:
Solvents like tetrachioroethylene is used in dry cleaning of clothes, pollute the ground water and are carcinogenic. In place of tetrachloroethylene liquefied CO₂ with suitable detergents an alternate solvent used. Liquefied CO₂ is not that much harmful for the groundwater. Nowadays H₂O₂ is used for bleaching clothes in laundry that give better results and utilises less water.

Question 26.
Carbon monoxide gas is more dangerous than carbon dioxide gas. Why?
Answer:
Carbon monoxide gas combines with haemoglobin to form a very stable compound known as carboxy haemoglobin. When its concentration in blood reaches 3-4%, the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood is greatly reduced. This results into headache, nervousness and sometimes death of the person. On the other hand CO₂ does not combine with haemoglobin and hence it is less harm ful than CO.

Question 27.
Which gases are responsible for greenhouse effect? List some of them.
Answer:
CO, is mainly responsible for greenhouse effect. Other greenhouse gases are methane, nitrous oxide, water vapours, CFCs and ozone.

Question 28.
A large number of fishes are suddenly found floating dead on a lake. There is no evidence of toxic dumping but you find an abundance of phytoplankton. Suggest a reason for the fish killing.
Answer:
Excessive phytoplankton (organic pollutants such as leaves, grass trash etc.) growth which is present in water is biodegradable. Bacteria decomposes this organic matter in water. During this process when large number of bacteria decomposes the organic matter, they consume the dissolved oxygen in water. When the level of dissolved oxygen falls below 6 ppm then the fishes cannot survive and they die.

Question 29.
How carbon monoxide acts as a poison for human beings’?
Answer:
Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas because it combines with haemoglobin of RBC to form carboxyhaernoglobin as:
CO + Haemoglobin ⇌ Carboxyhaemoglobin
It inhibits the transport of oxygen to different pans of the body. Thus the body becomes oxygen-starved.

Question 30.
Give three examples in which the principles green chemistry has been applied.
Answer:

• In dry-cleaning, use of liquefied CO₂ in place of non-environment friendly tetrachioroethene (Cl₂C = CCl₂).
• Use of H₂O₂ in bleaching in place of chlorine.
• In the manufacture of chemicals like ethanal by using environment-friendly chemicals and conditions.

3 Marks Questions and Answers

Question 1.
Write about Bhopal gas tragedy.
Answer:

• On 3rd Decembers. 1984 at Bhopal city in India, by the early morning, an explosion at Union carbide pesticide plant released a cloud of toxic gas (Methyl isocyanate) CH₃NCO into the air.
• Since the gas is twice as heavy as air, it did not drift away but formed a blanket over the surrounding area.
• It attacked people’s lungs and affect their breathing staying there or in the nearby areas. Thousands of peopic died and lives of many were ruined. The lungs, brain, eyes, muscles as well as gastrointestinal, neurological and immune system of those people who survived were severely affected.

Question 2.
Explain how the oxides of sulphur pollute the atmospheric air. Give its haririful eflects.
Answer:

• Sulphur dioxide and sulphur trioxide are produced by burning sulphur containing fossil fuels and by roasting of suiphide ores.
• SO₂ is a poisonous gas for both animals and plants. SO₂ causes eye irritation, coughing and respiratory diseases like asthma, bronchitis.
• SO₂ is oxidised to more harmful SO₃ gas in the presence of particulate matter present in the polluted air:
  
  SO₂ combines with atmospheric water vapour to form H₂SO₄ which comes down along with rain in the form of acid rain:
• Acid rain causes stone leprosy. affect aquatic ecosystem, corrode water pipes and causes respiratory ailment in humans and animals.

Question 3.
How oxides of nitrogen are harmful?
Answer:
(i) Oxides of nitrogen are produced during high temperature combustion processes, by oxidation of nitrogen in air and it is formed the combustion of fuels such as coal, diesel and petrol.

(iii) The oxides of nitrogen are converted into nitric acid which comes down in the form of acid rain. They also form reddish brown haze in heay traffic.
(iv) Nitrogen dioxide potentially damage plant leaves and retard photosynthesis.
(v) NO₂ is a respiratory irritant and it can cause asthma and lung injury.

Question 4.
Explain how hydrocarbons pollute the atmospheric air.
Answer:

• The compounds composed of carbon and Hydrogen only are called hydrocarbons. They are mainly produced naturally and also by incomplete combustion of automobile fuels.
• They are potential cancer causing (carcinogenic) agents.
• For example polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are carcinogenic, they cause irritation in eyes and mucous membranes.

Question 5.
Write flotes about great London smog.
Answer:

• The great smog of London (1952) was an instance of severe air pollution that affected the London from 5th December 9^th of December, 1952 and then dispersed quickly when the whether changed.
• It causes major disruption by reducing the visibility and even penetrating indoor areas.
• Government medical reports estimated that 4000 people had died as a direct result of smog and 100.000 were made ill by the smog effect on their respiratory tract.

Question 6.
What are the effects of classical smog?
Answer:

• Smog is primarily responsible for acid rain.
• Smog results in poor visibility and it affects air and road transport.
• It also causes bronchial irritation.

Question 7.
Explain how oxides of nitrogen are introduced directly into the stratosphere?
Answer:

• Nitrogen oxides are introduced directly into the stratosphere by the supersonic jet aircraft engines in the form of exhaust gases.
• These oxides arc released by combustion of fossil fuels and nitrogen fertilisers. Inert nitrous oxide in the stratosphere is photochemically converted into more reactive nitric oxide.
• Oxides of nitrogen catalyses the decomposition of ozone and are themselves regenerated. Ozone gets depleted as follows:
  
  Thus NO is regenerated in the chain reaction.

Question 8.
How chemical wastes pollute water?
Answer:

• A whole variety of chemicals from industries, such as metals and solvents are poisonous to fish and other aquatic life.
• Toxic pesticides can accumulate in fish and shell fish and poison the people who eat them.
• Detergents and oil float spoils the water bodies.
• Acids from mine drainage and salts from various sources can also contaminate water sources.

Question 9.
Explain the presence of fluoride in water and its hazardous effects?
Answer:

• Fluoride ion deficiency in drinking water causes tooth decay.
• The fluoride ions make the enamel on teeth much harder by converting hydroxyapatite
  [3(Ca₃(PO₄)₂. Ca(OFl)₂]. the enamel on the surface of the teeth into much harder fluorapatite [3(Ca₃(PO₃)₂. CaF₂]
• Fluoride ion concentration above 2 ppm causes brown mottling of teeth. Excess fluoride causes damage to bones and teeth.

Question 10.
Explain the harmful effects of

1. lead
2. Nitrate in drinking water.

Answer:

1. Drinking water containing lead contamination above 50 ppm can cause damage to liver, kidneys and reproductive system.
2. Use of drinking water having concentration of nitrates higher than 45 ppm may cause (blue baby syndrome) methemoglobinemia disease in chiidrens.

Question 11.
Explain how styrene is produced by traditional and greener routes?
Answer:
1. Traditional route:
This method involve two steps-Carcinogenic benzene reacts with ethylene to form ethyl benzene. After that ethyl benzene undergoes dehydrogenation using Fe₂O₃ / Al₂O₃ to give styrene.

2. Greener route:
To avoid carcinogenic benzene. greener routes to start with cheaper and
environment friendly xylene.

Question 12.
How acetaldehyde is commercially prepared by green chemistry?
Answer:
Acetaldehyde is commercially prepared by one step oxidation of ethene in the presence of ionic catalyst in aoiieniis medium with 9% yield.

Question 13.
What do you mean by ozone hole? What are its consequences?
Answer:
Depletion of ozone layer creates some sort of holes in the blanket of ozone which surrounds us in the atmosphere and this is known as ozone hole.

• With the depletion of the ozone layer, UV radiations filters into the troposphere which leads to ageing of skin. cataract, sunburn, skin cancer etc.
• By killing many of the phytoplanktons, it can damage the fish productivity.
• Evaporation rate increases through the surface and stomata of leaves which can decrease the moisture content of the soil.

Question 14.
What is photo chemical smog? What arc its effects? How can it be controlled?
Answer:
It is a kind of smog formed in warm, dry and sunny climate. It is formed when sunlight is absorbed by SO₂ oxides of nitrogen and hydrocarbons. It act as an oxidising agent.

Effects of photo chemical smog:

• It produces irritation in eyes and also in respiratory system.
• It can damage many materials such as metals, stones, building materials etc.
• NO₂ present in photochemical smog gives it brown colour which reduces the visibility.
• it is harmful to fabrics, crops and ornamental plants.

Control of photochemical smog:

• By using catalytic converters in automobilës.
• By spraying certain compounds into the atmosphere which generate free radicals that can easily combine with the free radicals that initiates the reaction forming toxic compounds of photochernical smog.
• Certain plants such as Pinus, Juniparus, Pyrus could be also helpful in this matter.

Question 15.
(a) Define eutrophication and pneumoconiosis.
(b) Write differences between photochemical smog and classical smog.
Answer:
(a) Eutrophication:
When the growth of algae increases in the surface of water, dissolved oxygen in water is greatly reduced. This phenomenon is known as eutrophication. Due to this growth of fishes gets inhibited.

(b) Pueumoconiosis:
It is a disease which irritates lungs. It causes scarring or fibrosis of the lungs.

Pholochemical smog:

• It is formed as a result of photochernical decomposition of nitrogen dioxide and chemical reactions involving hydrocarbons.
• It takes place during dry warm season in presence of sunlight.
• It is oxidising in nature.

Classical smog:

• It’s formed due to condensation of SO₂ vapours on particles of carbon in cold climate.
• it is generally formed during winter when there is severe cold.
• It is reducing in nature.

5 Marks Questions and Answers

Question 1.
Explain about the different layers of Earth’s atmosphere.
Answer:
Earth’s atmosphere can he divided into different layers with characteristic altitude and temperature.

Question 2.
What arc the health effects of particulate pollutants?
Answer:
1. Dust, mist, fumes etc. are air borne particles which are dangerous for human health. Particulate pollutants bigger than 5 microns are likely to settle in the nasal passage whereas particles of about 10 microns enter the lungs easily and causes scaring or fibrosis of lung lining.

They irritate the lungs and causes cancer and asthma. This disease is called pneumoconiosis. Coal miners may suffer from black lung disease. Textile workers may suffer from white lung disease.

2. Lead particulates affect children’s brain. interferes with maturation of RBC’s and even causes cancer.

3. Particulates in the atmosphere reduces the visibility by scattering and absorption of sun light. It is dangerous for aircraft and motor vehicles.

4. Particulates provide nuclei for cloud formation and increases fog and rain.

5. Particulates deposit on plant leaves and hinder the intake of CO₂ from the air and affect photosynthesis.

Question 3.
What arc the effects of photochernical smog?
Answer:

• The three main components of photochemical smog are nitrogen oxide, ozone and oxidized hydrocarbons like HCHO, CH₂ = CH – CRO and PAN.
• Photo chemical smog causes irritation to eyes. skin and lungs. It also increases the chance of asthma.
• high concentration of ozone and NO can cause nose and throat irritation, chest pain, difficulty in breathing.
• PAN is toxic to plants, attack younger leaves and cause bronzing and glazing of their surfaces.
• It causes corrosion of metals, stones, building materials and painted surfaces.

Question 4.
Explain about the environmental impacts of ozone depletion.
Answer:
1. The formation and destruction of ozone is a regular natural process, which never disturbs the equilibrium level of ozone in the stratosphere. Any change in the equilibrium level of ozone in the atmosphere will adversely affect the Life in biosphere in the following ways.
2. Depletion of ozone layer will allow more UV rays to reach the earth surface and would cause skin cancer and also decreases the immunity level in human beings.
3. UV radiations atlecis plant proteins which lead to harniful mutation in plant cells.
4. UV radiations affect the growth of phytoplankton and as a result ocean food chain is disturbed and it even damages the fish productivity.

Question 5.
Explain the list of major water pollutants and their sources.
Answer:

• Microorganisms – Domestic sewage, domestic waste water, dung heap
• Organic wastes – Domestic sewage, animal excreta, food processing factory wastc. detergents and decayed animals and plants
• Plant nutrients – Chemical fertilisers
• Heavy metals – Heavy metal producing factories
• Sediments – Soil erosion by agriculture and strip-mining
• Pesticides – Chemicals used for killing insects, fungi and weeds
• Radioactive substances – Mining of uranium containing minerals
• Heat – Water used for cooling in industries

Question 6.
Describe about the causes of water pollution.
Answer:
Causes of water pollution –
1. Microbiological pollutants:
(a) Disease causing microorganisms like bacteria, viruses and protozoa are most senous water pollutants. They come from domestic sewage and animal excreta.
(b) Fish and shellfish can become contaminated from them and people who eat them will also become ill.
(c) Dysentery and cholera are water borne diseases.
(d) Human excrcta contain bacteria such as Escherichia coll and Streptococcus farcical- -is which causes gastrointestinal diseases.

2. Organic wastes:
Organic matter such as leaves, grass, trash can also pollute water. Water pollution is cause by excessive phytoplankton growth within water.

3. Chemical wastes:
A whole variety of chemicals from industries such as metals and solvents are poisonous to fish and other aquatic life. Detergents and oils float spoils the water bodies. Acids from mine drainage and salts form various sources can also contaminate water sources.

Question 7.
What are the harmful effects of chemical water pollutants’?
Answer:

1. Cadmium and mercury can cause kidney damage.
2. Lead poisoning can lead to severe damage of kidneys. liver and brain. It also affects the central nervous system.
3. Polychiorinated biphenyl causes skin diseases and are carcinogenic in nature.

Question 8.
Explain about green chemistry in day-to-day life.
Answer:
1. Dry cleaning of clothes:
Solvents like tetrachloroethylene used in dry cleaning of clothes, pollute the ground water and are carcinogenic. In place of tetrachloro ethylene, liquefied CO₂ with suitable detergent is an alternate solvent used. Liquefied CO₂ is not harmful to the ground water. Nowadays H₂O₂ is used for bleaching clothes in laundry, gives better result and utilises less water.

2. Bleaching of paper:
Conventional method of bleaching was done with chlorine. Nowadays H₂O₂ can be used for bleaching paper in the presence of catalyst.

3. Synthesis of chemicals:
Acetaldehyde is commercially prepared by one step oxidation of ethane in the presence of ionic catalyst in aqueous medium with 90% yield.

4. Instead of petrol, methanol is used as a fuel in automobiles.
5. Neem based pesticides have been synthesized, which are more safer than the chlorinated hydrocarbons.