Environmental Studies

Air Pollution

2,298 Questions

Air pollution questions address the sources of emissions, indoor air quality, and the formation of photochemical smog. You will explore the impact of particulate matter, acid rain, and urban pollutants. This is a highly relevant subject for environmental studies and general awareness tests.

Photochemical smogParticulate matter emissionsAcid rain causesIndoor air pollutionAmmonia emissions

Air Pollution Questions

Multiple choice

The 1984 tragedy in Bhopal was due to the leakage of

  1. carbon dioxide

  2. sulpher dioxide

  3. methyl isocynide

  4. ozone
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy was caused by methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas leakage from a Union Carbide pesticide plant. Option C says 'methyl isocynide' which appears to be a typo for methyl isocyanate. This was one of the world's worst industrial disasters, exposing over 500,000 people to toxic gas. The other options (carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, ozone) are incorrect - they are common gases but not involved in this specific disaster.

Multiple choice

A powerful eye irritant present in smog is

  1. ozone

  2. nitric oxide

  3. peroxyacetyl nitrate

  4. sulphur dioxide
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN) is a secondary pollutant formed in photochemical smog that causes severe eye irritation. While ozone is also present in smog, PAN is specifically known as a powerful eye irritant.

Multiple choice

Burning of fossil fuel is the main source of pollutiondue to

  1. Nitrogen oxide

  2. Nitric acid

  3. Nitrous oxide

  4. Sulphur dioxide
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Burning fossil fuels releases sulfur dioxide (SO2), a major air pollutant that contributes to acid rain and respiratory problems. While nitrogen oxides are also produced, SO2 has historically been the primary pollutant associated with fossil fuel combustion, especially from coal power plants.

Multiple choice

Air pollution is not caused by

  1. pollen grains

  2. hydroelectric power

  3. industries

  4. automobiles
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Hydroelectric power plants generate electricity through water flow without burning fuels, so they don't produce air pollution or greenhouse gases during operation. Pollen grains (A), industries (C), and automobiles (D) all contribute to air pollution - pollen as natural particulate matter, industries through emissions, and automobiles through exhaust.

Multiple choice

The major harmful gas emitted by automobile vehicles which causes air pollution is ____________.

  1. Carbon Monoxide

  2. Carbon Dioxide

  3. Oxygen

  4. Hydrogen
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Carbon monoxide (CO) is produced when fuel doesn't burn completely in vehicle engines. It's highly toxic because it binds to hemoglobin in blood more strongly than oxygen, reducing oxygen delivery to tissues. While vehicles also emit CO2, CO is the immediate health hazard.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is a secondary pollutant?

  1. PAN

  2. SO3

  3. SO2

  4. NO2
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Secondary pollutants are formed by reaction among primary pollutants. PAN (Peroxyacetyl nitrates) are formed through the reaction between nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons in the presence of sunlight. 

Multiple choice

Which gas often creates more air-pollution?

  1. Nitrogen

  2. Carbondioxide

  3. Carbonmonoxide

  4. Oxygen
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a major air pollutant from incomplete combustion of fossil fuels in vehicles, industrial processes, and poorly ventilated heating systems. CO is toxic because it binds to hemoglobin more readily than oxygen, causing asphyxiation. While CO2 is a greenhouse gas, CO creates more immediate local air pollution and health hazards.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is not an air pollutant?

  1. Sulphur dioxide

  2. Phosphate

  3. Nitrogen oxide

  4. Carbon monoxide

  5. Chlorofluorocarbons
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct option as phosphate is not an air pollutant. It is a water pollutant.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is/are false? a. Sulphur dioxide is produced by the burning of coal in factories and thermal power plants. b. Nitrogen oxides attack the breathing system and lead to lung congestion. c. Smog is a deadly air pollutant which is formed by the combination of smoke and fog.

  1. Only a

  2. Only a and b

  3. Only b

  4. Only b and c

  5. None of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct option as all the above statements are correct. Sulphur dioxide is produced by the burning of coal in factories and thermal power plants. Nitrogen oxides attack the breathing system and lead to lung congestion. Smog is a deadly air pollutant which is formed by the combination of smoke and fog.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is/are false? a. An unwanted and harmful substance that contaminates the environment is called a pollutant. b. The two main gases present in the air are oxygen and hydrogen. c. A substance becomes an air pollutant when it is present in the air in such concentrations which are high enough to have a harmful effect on the living and non-living things.

  1. Only a

  2. Only a and b

  3. Only b

  4. Only b and c

  5. Only c
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct option as this statement is false. The two main gases present in the air are oxygen and nitrogen, and not oxygen and hydrogen.