Multiple choice

In public urinals, the urine gives a pungent smell due to

  1. conversion of both urea and uric acid into ammonia

  2. conversion of uric acid into ammonia by Ornithine cycle

  3. conversion of urea into ammonia by bacteria

  4. none of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The pungent smell in public urinals is caused by bacterial action. Bacteria (particularly urease-producing bacteria like Proteus mirabilis) convert urea into ammonia through hydrolysis. The ammonia gas produces the characteristic strong odor. Option A is incorrect because uric acid is not the primary source of the smell in this context. Option B is incorrect because the Ornithine cycle (urea cycle) occurs in the liver, not in urinals.

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